THB SKY-I-VKK. 217 



her, she flew to them as soon as liberated, and would not attempt to effect her own 

 escape, which she might have done a hundred times. Her affection grew upon her ; she 

 neglected food and drink : she now required the same support as her adopted ofepring, 

 and expired at last, consumed with maternal anxiety. Xone of the Toung ones survived, 

 so essential were her cares, which were equally tender and judicious, 



Shakspeare styles the lark the " herald of the mom," and that in strict conformity 

 with nature, as the bird rises in the air and begins its carol before day. He has been 

 heard as early as two o'clock on a spring morning. To this one of our poets thus 

 alludes : — 



•• God of the mountains, whom to praise 

 At early mom the lark doth rise. 

 Soaring and singing as he spreads 

 Hi< airy pinions to the skies. 



Sweet bird ! I feel thy gladsome notes 



Floating aloft in balmy air. 

 .\s thou a messenger wert sent 



From distant clime to soften care. 



Waking the song of other birds. 



The aerial symphonies to swell. 

 Till universal nature lends 



Her sweetest notes Heaven's praise to tell."* 



Another poet describes as follows the character of the song : — 



" With flutterimg start, in silence from her nest 



The sky-lark breaks : then steadier, upwards soars. 



And with melodious tiiD her prelude pours 

 To earth, in hues of full-flushed summer drest : 

 Xow, poised on moveless ■wing, she seems to r>t*t : 



Careless what Imd, beneath the airy height. 



May cross her path with hoiizfmtal flight. 

 The measured lay she breathes: then, like a guest 



Singing to other spheres, is lost in light : 

 Till, fondly lured, she tums her faithful breast 

 Dovmward through fields of blue. The warbling strain 

 Xear and more near she swells : then hushed again. 

 Falls like a shadow from the sunny dome, 

 .\nd chants her three wild notes to welcome homc."f 



Xor is the following description less accurate : — 



" Fraught with a transiait frozen showr. 

 If a cloud should haply lowV, 

 Sailing o'er the landscape dark. 

 Mute on a sudden is the lark ; 

 But when gleams the suii again 

 O'er the pearl besprinkled plain, 

 * And from behind his wat'ry veil 



Looks through the thin descending hail ; 

 She mounts, and lessening to the sight. 

 Salutes the blythe return of light : 

 And high her tuneful track pursues 

 'Mid the dim rainbow's scattertd hues." 



Mudie, whose conclusions on this subject are as just as his observations, remarks, 

 '• The aeoordance of the song with the mode of the ascent and descent is worthy of 

 notice. WThen the volutions of the spiral are narrow, and the bird changes its attitude 

 rapidly iu proportion to the whole quantity ot flight, the song is partially suppressed, 



' S S. S. -i- Mrs. J. Condor. 



