NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



315 



The far-famed Skylark of the Old World holds a place in the avifauna of North 

 America froid Its^bccasional occurrence in the Bermudas, and in Greenland. Several 

 attempts have beeri'inade to introduce these desirable birds in Eastern United States, 

 but so far the 6x|)eriments ha vd' proved unsuccessful. The Skylarl^ is an, inhabitant 

 of all the coiintMes of Europe, and is said to be more plentiful in cultivated, districts. 

 Thetriating sieasori is in April,* and two broods are reared in a season. The nest is 

 always placed on the ground, in ineadows or open grassy places; it is often sheltered 

 by & tuft of gta'ss, clod of earth, or other projection. The materials used in its com- 

 pOsitiCri'Slre gr'asses,''plant stem^, and a few' chance leaves; the lining is pi the same, 

 but finer. ■ The eggs are three, four or "five in hiimber, and vary considerably in form 

 and 'coloration; si>nle are grayish-white with a tinge of purjple or greenish-white, 

 thickly sprinkled and mottled with a grayish-brown or drab; others are of a deep 

 sombre hue, and in some the markings are chiefly concentrated at the larger end. 

 These are the variations exhibited in four sets of four eggs each in my cabinet, taken 

 in Staffordshire, England, in the latter part of April and the first of May. The 

 smallest set' offers the following sizes: .86x.57, .87x.66, .8ix.58, -SSx.eO; the largest, 

 .93X.64, .95X.64, ;92x.62, .94x.64,' respectively. 



4T4 Horned Lark (From Brehm). 



; 474. HOKNED LABK. Otoooris alpestris (Linn.) Geog. Dist.— Northeastern 

 North America— Labrador, region about Hudson Bay, Greenland, and northern parts 

 of the Old 'World; in winter south in Eastern United States to the. Carolinas, 

 Illinois, etc. 



