J82 THE SK^-LARK. 



not think of efTecting her own escape, which she might have done a 

 htmdred times, ller affection grew upon her: she neglected food and 

 drink; she now required the same suj>port as her adopted offspring, 

 and expired at last, consumed with maternal anxiety. None of the 

 young-ones survived her. They died one after another; so essential 

 were her cares, which were equally tender and judicious." 



The common fooil of young Sky-larks is worms and insects; but 

 after they are grown up they live chiefly on seeds, herbage, and most 

 other vegetal)le substances. These birds are easily tamed, and they 

 became so familiar as to eat off the table, and even to alight on the 

 hand; but they cannot cling by their toes, on account of the form of 

 the hinder toe, which is straight and very long. This is the reason 

 why they never perch on trees. 



The Lark commences his song early in spring, and continues it 

 during the whole of the summer. It is heard chiefly in the morning 

 and evening, and the Lark is one of those few birds that chaunt theii 

 mellow notetj on the wing. Thomson elegantly describes it as tb« 

 leader of the warbling choir: — 



Up spring^s the I^arlj, 

 Shrill-voiced and Imid, tlie nies.senger of mora 

 Ere yet the shadows fiy, he, ii>f>i>T>ted, sings 

 Aii»id the dawniog clouds, aad fioin their haonta 

 Calld up the tuaeful oatiuus. 



The Lark mounts almost perpendicularly, and by successive 

 springs, into the air; where it hovers at a vast height. Its descent 

 3s in an oblique direction; unless threatened by some ravenous bird 

 of prey, or attracted by its mate, when it drops to the ground like a 

 itone. On its tirst leaving the earth, its notes are feeble and inter- 

 rupted; but as it rises, these gradually swell to their full tone. There 

 is something in the concomitant scenery, that renders the music of 

 the Liirk i>eculiarly delightful. The placid landscape and various 

 rural charms, all contribute to heighten our relish for its pleasing 

 song. 



These birds become musical in the spring, and continue so foj 

 several months; but in winter their song forsakes them. Tbey then 

 asseml)le in flocks, grow fat. and are caught in vast numbers by the 

 bird-catchers. As many as four thousand dozen have been taken in 

 the neighborhood of Dunstable, between September and February ; 

 but this holds no proportion to what are sometimes caught in differ- 

 ent parts of Germany, where there is a tax upon them. Key&ler says^ 

 that at one time this tax produced six thousand dollars eYerj year to 

 the city of Leipsic. 



Larks that are caught in the day-time are taken in clap-nets, of 

 fifteen yards in length, and two and a half in breadth; and they are 

 enticed by bits of looking-glass fixed in a piece of wood, and placed 

 in the middle of the nets. These are put into quick whirling motion, 

 by a string which the larker commands; he also makes use of a decoy- 

 bird. This kind of net is used only till the fourteenth of November; 

 fbr the Larks will not frolic in the air^ and consequently cannot be 



