132 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



preferred to the sheltered; and in the little low 

 valleys, "where one would expect the birds to con- 

 gregate at such a time, the lark-catcher would 

 toil in vain. 



JN'o bird is so easily netted as the lark; he 

 generally starts from the ground just before the 

 lower edge of the net touches him, and invariably 

 mounts perpendicularly. This characteristic pro- 

 pensity to ascend at once may be observed by 

 any person who "treads up'' a lark in a field, and 

 satisfactorily illustrated by releasing, at the same 

 moment, a newly captured lark and a sparrow 

 from a cage or hat within the precincts of a room. 

 While the sparrow will fly off horizontally, dash 

 himself against the window, and lie almost stunned 

 from the shock, the lark will generally mount up- 

 wards to the ceiling,* and flutter there for a time, 

 in vain efl'orts to reach the sky, before he attempts 

 any other mode of exit: but this habit is fatal 

 to him in the netting season; he might frequently 

 escape, as indeed the bunting, — or clod-bird, — 



* Since the first publication of the " Eambles" I have 

 met with the following remark in Bechstein's " Natural 

 History of Cage Birds : " — " The top of the cage (the 

 lark's) shoukl be of hnen, since from its tendency to rise 

 for flight it woukl run the risk of wounding its head 

 against a covering of wood or iron wire, especially be- 

 fore it is well tamed." 



