with other fmall birds, in the vicinity of farm yards, tocolIe6l 
fcattered grain ; they are at that time very fat, and are quite 
equal in flavour to larks. 
Its neft is ufually placed very low, and is formed of flraw, 
fibres, and dry ftalks, lined with grafs and hair ; it lays four 
or live eggs, generally of a pale blueifli purple hue, veined 
with irregular dark flreaks, which terminate in an oblong 
fpot, that runs in an oppofite diredion to the vein ; it is but 
feldom that two eggs are feen of the fame colour. 
In delicacy of colour few of our indigenous birds furpafs 
the prefent ; its note is fimple and confifts of a fhrill chirp 
quickly repeated, and terminated with one fhriller and more 
piercing; its maners are familiar, it obtrudes itfelf into notice, 
and will often accompany a perfon on the road, for a mile or 
more, making very iliort flights^ fo as to keep only a few 
yards before. 
