48 



NEST AND EGGS OF THE FIELD-LARK. 



PLATE XLVIII. 



This nest, like that of the Woodlark, had a bed of 

 moss for its foundation, which fell off when the nest 

 was taken up. The whole outside is made of the 

 stems and blades of dead grass, and the middle lay or 

 coat, of a finer sort of the same matter ; the lining 

 was made of the finest part of the grass, with a few 

 hairs. Most birds vary in the choice of their mate- 

 rials ; whether from carelessness, necessity, choice, or 

 what other cause, I know not, but so we find them. 

 The nest I now describe is lined with the finest blades 

 of grass, mixed with a few hairs. I have seen nests of 

 the same bird, with a thick lining consisting wholly of 

 hair, and others quite destitute of that article. 



Five eggs are in this nest, of a brown mottled 

 colour, having a kind of dull purple cast ; a colour 

 more easily expressed by the pencil than described by 

 the pen. 



