THE SKY- LARK 129 



our readers some account of it. 



Our time being now quite exhausted, we had to retrace our steps to the 

 quay, and thus, to our regret, brought to a conclusion our first excursion for 

 the season. 



Olasgow, May Qth., 1851. 



THE SKY-LARK, (ALAUDA ARVENSIS.) 



BY J. Mc'iNTOSH, ESQ. 



"The Laverock in the morning he'll rise frae his nest, 

 And mount to the air wi' the dew on his breast." 



The Sky-lark or Laverock, by which latter name it is generally known in 

 Scotland, and especially by its poets, is truly the bird of the morning. It 

 is not merely the herald, but the awakener of the dawn, and is thus described 

 by the old dramatist, Lilly: — 



"Brave prick-song! who is't now we hear? 

 None but the Lark, so shrill and clear. 

 Now at heaven's gate she claps her wings, 

 And morn not wakens till she sings." 



How delightful it is to catch the first glimpse of that glorious orb of day 

 peeriiig over the eastern hills, and to watch the Sky- lark soaring and soaring, 

 till it becomes a mere speck, or is altogether lost to our sight in that vast 

 and beautiful expanse of sky, while its thrilling notes still fall upon our ears. 

 When at its greatest height, should a bird of prey make its appearance, it 

 closes its wings, and drops like a stone to the ground, and should the 

 intruder continue to hover near, the Sky-lark lies motionless* its colour or 

 markings so much resemble the colour of the earth that it in general escapes 

 the talons of its enemy. But when descending in its own joyous manner, it 

 comes down by repeated falls, as it were, fluttering and singing till it arrives 

 near the ground, when it becomes mute. It appears to me not to be 

 geaarally knowa that the Sky-lark has two broods in the year, at least it 

 is the case in the southern counties. The first is fledged in the beginning of 

 .Tune, and the second in August, at which time we have frequently found 

 their nests in valleys and high chalky corn-fields. In the more northern 

 counties, where the snow remains longer on the ground, and the springs are 

 later, we have never met with more than one brood, which is generally 

 fledged about the end of July. It is also usually supposed that the Sky- 

 lark does not settle or perch on trees ; this is however, a mistake ; we have 

 frequently seen and shot them from off the twigs of trees, wl\ere they await 

 for the passing insect, on which they dart, and having secured their prize return 

 to the bough. Their nests are generally composed of dried roots and grass, 

 also of leaves, with finer materials of the same for a lining, placed on the 



VOL. I. s 



