SKY-LARK. 
177 
it is placed upon the ground, and may be found in almost 
every situation which the country affords; the grassy 
meadow, the corn-field, the open pasture, and on the 
bare sod of the ploughed land ; it may also be met with 
amongst the long tufts of grass which abound in lands 
partially boggy, and sometimes in newty made planta¬ 
tions. 
Mr. Blyth mentions a remarkable instance in which 
the Sky-lark—its nest being laid open by the scythe— 
constructed over it a canopy of dry grass, to afford it the 
protection and concealment which the long grass, amongst 
which it was snugly sheltered, had previously afforded, 
an instance curious, because the same birds had probably 
the preceding year built their nest in a situation quite as 
much exposed to the daylight and the weather as the 
present one when left bare by the mowers. 
The Sky-lark breeds earlier, but I have usually found 
its eggs in May and June; they are from three to five ; 
frequently not more than three in number. 
