especially in open cornfields, though equally at home 

 everywhere excepting in woods or plantations. While 

 many remain in the same quarters throughout the year, 

 yet their numbers are largely reinforced by migration in 

 the spring and autumn. In these migrations the males 

 appear generally to precede the females. You may see 

 the Sky-Larks, who have been scattered in pairs and 

 families through the spring and summer, as autumn 

 approaches assembling in vast flocks, both on the 

 stubble of cornfields and near the sea-shore. 



An interesting illustration of discriminating instinct 

 in the Sky-Lark is noticed by Professor Newton, who 

 observes that " the appearance of a Merlin will cause a 

 sudden cessation of the song, at whatever height the 

 performer may be, his wings are closed, and he drops 

 to the earth like a falling stone ; the Kestrel, however, 

 is treated with indifference, and in the presence of a 

 Sparrow-Hawk the Sky-Lark knows that safety is to be 

 sought aloft." 



The Sky-Lark usually scrapes a hollow in the ground 

 for her nest, which is generally placed under the shelter 

 of a tuft of grass or a clod. In the north of England 

 the Sky-Larks generally remain in flocks in the open 

 fields until the first fall of snow, when they promptly 

 retire to the south. In mild seasons, like that of 

 1889-90, a few remain in Northumberland throughout 

 the winter. 



