BIRDS. 203 
utmost feather of the wing is much shorter than the se- 
cond, whereas in the common lark they are nearly equal. 
This bird sometimes emulates the nightingale ; and, when 
pouring his sweet melody in the grove, during a silent 
night, he is often mistaken for Philomel herself. These 
birds sit and perch upon trees, which habit the common 
lark has not, being always found on the ground. They 
build their nest at the foot of a bush, near the bottom of a 
hedge, or in high dry grass. The number of eggs is about 
four ; these are of a pale bloom colour, beautifully mot- 
tled, and clouded with red and yellow. Like the skylark, 
they assemble in large flocks during frosty weather. 
Their usual food consists of small beetles, caterpillars, and 
other insects, as well as the seeds of numerous kinds of 
wild plants. 
Bright o'er the green hills rose the morning ray, 
The Woodlark's song resounded on the plain, 
Fair Nature felt the warm embrace of day, 
And smiled through all her animated reign. LANGBOURNE 
THE TITMOUSE, OR TOM-TIT. (Parus major.) 
THIS small bird presents us with a curious anomaly; 
namely, its tongue is split at the end into four distinct 
filaments. The head is curiously coloured ; the beak is 
generally black, with strong hairs at its base. The head 
and throat are of the same colour, the body of a yellowish 
green; the back and coverts of the wings green, and the 
