34 A lark's nkst. 



which thus presses into every curvature, enabled to resist a great pressure, 

 but oftener sports ou the surface. 



Who shall say what woodei-s are yet hidden in the deep ocean, or what 

 provisions are necessary to meet media that we know not of? Sure I am that 

 no one rises from the cootemnliition of atty natuMl production, If he considers 

 it aright, without beiog a better and a wiser man. It is in these matters 

 that we see palpaVy the finger of God, who hath done all things well; 

 whether we sail on the sea or traverse the earth, it is the same. When 

 we investigate any of those orders of beings, which move in so different 

 a medium from our own, we are struck with an admiration which no other 

 study can supply, but if we reflect upon it, we shall see that every branch 

 of animated nature possesses equal claims upon our attention; and it is in 

 this way that we should regard it, and not merely taking the novelty of 

 the pursuit for our incentive, look through all these. His works, to the Creator, 

 whose ways are in the deep waters, and whose footsteps are not known, and 

 learn to remember the great truth, that nothing was made in vain. 



(To be continued.) 



A LARK'S NEST. 



BY JAMES B. DAVIES, ESQ. 



About noon on Sunday, the 2nd. of May, 1852, I was walking by the side 

 of the River Greta, at the back of what was once the abode of poor Southey, 

 when noticing a Ground Lark start from beside my feet, dart across the 

 river, suddenly re-cross at another place, and off again: I naturally concluded 

 from its anxiety that I must be iu the vicinity of the modest mansion, 

 where its hope for the season lay as yet unfledged, I was right; for on 

 examining the bank the habitation of the little flutterer was soon detected. 

 It would not be more than four feet from the ground, on as sweet a bank 

 as bird or fairy could wish to build, though not 



"Quite o'ercanopicd with lush woodbine, 

 With sweet musk rosos, and with eglantine " 



The hole would be about nine inches in length, and the inner portion con- 

 siderably sunk and well lined, so as to afford a comfortable bed for the little 

 urchins within. They were two in number, and seemed very young, for not 

 a bit of their puny bodies was covered except the head, which had a 

 coating of blackish down. The bills were large and yellow, and continually 

 gaping, as if they expected some soft nutritious morsel of an insect to drop 

 into them. 



Such taste in the choice of a summer retreat I have seldom seen displayed, 

 warm and snug, well covered from the wind, and artfully concealed from the 

 prying looks of puss; with a crystal rivulet making sweet gurgling music 

 almost at its very door, and the lofty Skiddaw, ^^Queen of the lakes," looking 



