BRITISH BIRDS. 
j8o 
there, and that 4000 dozen have been taken be- 
tween September and February for the London 
markets. Yet, notwithftanding the great havock 
made amongfl thefe birds, they are extremely nu- 
merous* The winter is the bell feafon for taking 
them, as they are then very fat, being almoft con- 
ftantly on the ground, feeding in great flocks ; 
whereas in fummer they are very lean ; they then 
always go in pairs, eat fparingly, and fing incef- 
fantly while on the wing* 
THE FIELD LARK. 
(. Alauda campeflrisy Lin * — La Spipolette % BufF.) 
Tins exceeds the Titlark in fize, being about 
inches long : Its bill is flender ; the plumage on 
the head, neck, and back is of a dark greenifli 
brown, flreaked with black, palefl on the rump; 
above each eye is a pale ftreak : quill feathers 
dulky brown, with pale edges ; the fcapulars faint- 
ly bordered with white ; the throat and under parts 
of the body are of a dirty white ; the breafl is yel- 
lowifh, and marked with large black fpots ; the 
fides and thighs flreaked with black ; the tail duf- 
ky, two outer feathers white, excepting a fmall 
part of the inner web, the two next tipped with 
white ; the legs are of a yellowifh brown ; the 
bind claws fomewhat curved. 
