126 



MEADOW PIPIT. 



TITLARK. PIPIT LARK. TITLING. MEADOW 



TITLING. MOSS CHEEPER. LING BIRD. GREY CHEEPER. 



MEADOW LARK. 



PLATE LXVIII. 



Anthus pratensis, . Fleming. Lathaii. Seibt. Gotjld. 

 Alauda pratensis, . . Pennant. Latham. 



Alauda trivialis, . Montagu. 

 Alauda campestris, . Latham. 



The nest is placed either on or close to the ground, 

 often in marshy places, among grass, near a tuft, on 

 the branch of a very low bush, a bank, or a wall of 

 turf. It is composed of grass, the finer portions con- 

 stituting the lining, with occasionally a little moss and 

 hair. One has been known to be built on the end of 

 a plank, which formed part of a heap of timber. 



The eggs are from four to six in number, of a light 

 reddish brown, or reddish white, or pale brown, or 

 pale blue colour, mottled over, especially near the 

 larger end, with darker brown. They vary much in 

 depth of colouring, some being much darker than others : 

 hardly any two sets are exactly alike in this respect. 



One fine variety, figured by Professor Thieneman, 

 in his beautiful work, is wholly of a fine dark rich 

 brown, slightly variegated by being here and there 

 a trifle darker or lighter. 



