NESTING-SERIES OF BRITISH BIRDS 145 



osiers, sedge, and rushes flourish, but during winter it is otten to be met 

 with in the stubble-fields. Its food consists of insects and their larvae, 

 as well as Crustacea, seeds, and grain. The nest, made of dry grass and 

 dead 'flags, lined with bents, hair, and flowers of the reed, is usually 

 placed on the ground among tufts of rushes, but occasionally in a low 

 bush. The eggs, from four to six in number, are purplish-grey, boldly 

 marked and streaked with dark purplish-brown. Two, and sometimes 

 three, broods are reared in a season. 



Norfolk, July. 

 Presented by Lord Walsinghatn. 



Wo. 25, MEADOW^-PIPIT or TITLARK. 



(Anthus pratensis.) 



Generally distributed throughout the British Islands during the 

 summer months, and almost as abundant on the higher moors as it 

 is in the low-lying districts. Many individuals remain throughout 

 the year, but in autumn large numbers leave our shores and return 

 in spring. Insects, worms, molluscs and seeds form its principal 

 food and are actively searched for on the ground. The song is gene- 

 rally uttered on the wing, but sometimes when the bird is perched 

 on some bush or stone. The nest of dry grass is always placed 

 on the ground under the shelter of grass or among heather. The eggs 

 are greyish-white, thickly spotted with various shades of brown, and vary 

 from four to six in number. 



Kesident birds breed much earlier in the year than migrants, and the 



nest exhibited was taken at a time when the latter were probably still 



on their way north. c< a -i 



•' bussex, April. 



Presented by Dr. R. Boivdler Sharpe. 



No. 26. SKY-LARK. (Alauda arvensis.) 



This well-known songster is widely distributed throughout the British 

 Islands, and is especially abundant in the vicinity of cultivated fields 

 and grass-land. In autumn its numbers are largely increased by 

 immense flocks which arrive on our eastern coasts from the Continent. 

 Its magnificent and long-sustained song, uttered while the bird is soaring 

 on the wing till almost lost to sight, must be familiar to all. The nest 

 of dry grass is placed on the ground among growing crops or under the 

 shelter of a tuft of grass, and from three to five dull grey eggs, thickly 

 spotted with brown, are laid towards the end of April. Two broods are 

 usually produced in a season. 



Norfolk, June. 

 Presented by Lord Walsingham. 



