BIRDS OF THE FIELD 261 



perhaps, it is a thing hardly to be tried by mere 

 technical rule. The circumstances amidst which it 

 is uttered, the passionate rapture with which the 

 bird seems to press higher and higher into radiant 

 space ; the suggestion borne in its thrilled frame, 

 that it is inspired from some fount of happiness 

 denied to the common earth-dweller; these might 

 well lead Shelley to exclaim — - 



" Teach me half the gladness 

 That thy brain must know, 

 Such harmonious madness 

 From my hps would flow 

 The world should listen then, as I am listening now." 



In this poem, singularly true to the facts, one 

 couplet occurs which may well baffle the curious — 



" Like a cloud of fire 

 The blue deep thou wingest." 



Now, in what respect, it may be asked, can a 

 Lark possibly resemble a cloud of fire? 



It is a fact, perhaps, worth noting, that if an 

 ascending Lark be observed through the field- 

 glasses in certain conditions of light, it will be seen 

 to take on exquisite hues of emerald green and blue, 

 and to be surrounded by a nimbus as though of 

 luminous gold. 



The nest of the Skylark is formed of dry grass 

 lined with finer fibres, and is usually placed in some 

 slight depression on the ground. The eggs — three 

 to five in number — are of a dull white ground 

 colour, but are freckled so densely with olive-brown 

 that this hue appears to be almost uniform. The 



