414? Some Account of the British Song Birds, 



the mind of even the most serious. His joyous matins and 

 heavenward flight have been aptly compared to hymns and 

 acts of adoration and praise. No bird sings with more 

 method : there is an overture performed vivace crescendo, 

 while the singer ascends ; when at the full height, the song 

 becomes moderato, and distinctly divided into short passages, 

 each repeated three or four times over, like o, fantasia, in the 

 same key and time. If there be any wind, he rises perpen- 

 dicularly by bounds, and afterwards poises himself with 

 breast opposed to it. If calm, he ascends in spiral circles ; 

 in horizontal circles during the principal part of his song, 

 and zigzagly downwards during the performance of the finale. 

 Sometimes, after descending about half way, he ceases to 

 sing, and drops with the velocity of an arrow * to the ground. 

 Those acquainted with the song of the skylark can tell with- 

 out looking at them whether the birds be ascending or station- 

 ary in the air, or on their descent; so different is the style 

 of the song in each case. In the first, there is an expression 

 of ardent impatience ; in the second, an andante composure, 

 in which rests of a bar at a time frequently occur; and in the 

 last, a graduated sinking of the strains, often touching the 

 subdominant before the final close. The time and number of 

 the notes often correspond with the vibrations of the wings ; 

 and though they sometimes sing while on the ground, as they 

 are seen to do in cages, their whole frame seems to be agi- 

 tated by their musical efforts. 



The lark roosts and nestles on the ground, most commonly 

 among standing grass or corn, in open fields, or on downs 

 covered with low bushes. Hence they evade the search of the 

 nest-seeking boy, and also of the more fell destroyers, pole- 

 cats, stoats, and weasels, that seek their prey in hedges. They 

 are consequently numerous ; and, congregating in winter in 

 great flocks, are easily caught by the fowlers' snares, who send 

 them to poulterers for supplying the tables of the epicure : 

 cruel return for their summer harmony ! 



Alauda a7'bbrea, Wood Lark. — This bird, though it mostly 

 lives and breeds on the ground like the preceding, often sits 

 on trees ; hence its specific name. His song is peculiarly soft 

 and pleasing, consisting of a few passages repeated from time 

 to time, beginning high in double slurred notes, and descend- 

 ing plaintively diminuendo. They also sing on the wing; 

 but neither rise so high as the skylark, nor sing- with half its 



* Of this familiar fact the poet Gay has made a beautiful application in 

 his popular ballad of" Black-eyed Susan j" founding on it an apposite and 

 admirable simile. — J. D.for Cond. 



