In their
crops was nothing very distinguishable, but somewhat that seemed
like blades of vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they feed on
haws and yew-berries, and in the spring on ivy-berries. I dressed
one of these birds, and found it juicy and well-flavoured. It is
remarkable that they make but a few days' stay in their spring visit,
but rest near a fortnight at Michaelmas. These birds, from the
observations of three springs and two autumns, are most punctual
in their return; and exhibit a new migration unnoticed by the
writers, who supposed they never were to be seen in any of the
southern counties.
One of my neighbours lately brought me a new salicaria, which at
first I suspected might have proved your willow-lark,* but, on a
nicer examination, it answered much better to the description of
that species which you shot at Revesby, in Lincolnshire. My bird I
describe thus: 'It is a size less than the grasshopper-lark; the head,
back, and coverts of the wings of a dusky brown, without those
dark spots of the grasshopper-lark; over each eye is a milk-white
stroke; the chin and throat are white, and the under parts of a
yellowish white; the rump is tawny and the feathers of the tail
sharp-pointed; the bill is dusky and sharp, and the legs are dusky;
the hinder claw long and crooked.
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