508 



WOOD-LARK. 



bird ; but will often rise to a great height, and 

 keep flying in large irregular circles, singing the 

 whole time with little intermission, sometimes for 

 an hour together : it will also sing when perched 

 on a tree, even in the dead of winter, should the 

 weather be fine : its song is more melodious than 

 the Skylarks, and is continued throughout the 

 year, except during the months of June and July. 



This bird feeds on grain, seeds, and insects : it 

 builds its nest very early, and the young are capa- 

 ble of flying in April ; the nest is placed under a 

 tuft of high grass or furze, or in a low bush ; it is 

 made of dry grass, lined with finer grass and a few 

 hairs : the eggs are brown, varied with dusky and 

 ash-colour, particularly at the larger end; they are 

 mostly four in number, and are rather less than 

 those of the Skylark : it often has two broods in 

 the year. 



It appears to be a general inhabitant of Europe, 

 but is not so plentiful as the Skylark : in Devon- 

 shire it is found more abundantly than in any 

 other part of England, particularly in the winter 

 season, when they are said to be excellent eating, 

 and are very fat : it is rarely seen in greater flocks 

 than six or seven. 



