44 



M»nftH»4<*4M4.. 



NEST AND EGGS OF THE WOODLARK. 



PLATE XLIV. 



The nest before me was built in a furrow, amongst 

 stubble ; under the bottom of it, was a soft bed of fine 

 green moss, which was laid of a considerable thickness, 

 but which did not at all adhere to the nest when it was 

 removed from its place. The first coat of the nest 

 consisted of dried blades of grass, and other dried 

 weeds ; the middle coat was made of a finer kind of 

 the same stuff; as was also the lining, with the addi- 

 tion of a few hairs. 



The eggs in this nest were four ; the ground colour 

 a dull brownish white ; and they were sprinkled with 

 numerous very minute spots of a reddish hue, which 

 gave them an appearance like red sand. 



The song of the Woodlark is too well known to 

 need description. In my opinion, no bird is equal to 

 it for soft, sweet, and agreeable notes ; the Nightingale 

 not excepted. About eleven o'clock in a still summer 

 evening, his song is charmingly melodious : 't is un- 

 fortunate their time of singing is confined to so small 

 a part of the year. 



Mr. Albin says, the Woodlark breeds very early, 

 having young ready to fly by the middle of March ; 

 but here, in this degree of north latitude, they are not 

 so early by a month at the least. 



