160 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
SKYLARK. 
(^Alauda arvensis.) 
Laverock. — One of the most famous of English 
song-birds, and one which may be heard singing 
almost throughout the year, and in summer by 
night as well as by day. It sometimes sings on 
the ground, and has been known to do so on a 
tree. Its brown, mottled back and brown-speckled 
breast are well-known even in towns, from its being 
so often kept in cages that ought never to hold 
anything of a freer nature than a silkworm ; and 
when seen wheeling and flitting close to earth it 
may be easily recognised by the complete pale 
margin — a sort of silver lining — to the feathers of 
its wings and tail. Though the Skylark is resi- 
dent as a species, a great deal of migration goes on 
among individual flocks all through the winter 
months. Its nest is built on the ground in the 
latter part of April, and is well concealed by the 
colour of the dry grass of which it is entirely made, 
even when it is set in a shallow depression, or hoof- 
print, in a closely-grazed pasture-field. It is also 
built among long grass tussocks, corn and other 
green crops, or among the clods in a ploughed 
field. Three to five eggs are laid, greyish-white or 
creamy grey in ground-colour, thickly freckled 
