472 PRACTICAL ORNITHOLOGY. 



Orn. Did you ever attend to the song of the Sky- Lark ? I 

 wish to ascertain its duration by actual observation, for you 

 know how many errors are committed by drawing on the ima- 

 gination. Hearing the larks on a fine day, one supposes them 

 to sing for hours together, and yet I have never found that 

 their strain continues more than fifteen minutes without inter- 

 mission. Thus, as I have here recorded, I watched three larks 

 that rose in succession from a gi-ass-field. A very beautiful 

 day, in the end of February, with a gentle breeze from the 

 east. The first ascended almost perpendicularly, facing the 

 wind, and singing without intermission. When at its greatest 

 height it shot away to the left, in a wide curve, then wheeled 

 to the right, regained its station, began to descend, floating as 

 it were with expanded wings, which, on coming to about two 

 hundred yards from the ground, it closed, and came down with 

 great rapidity, not headlong, but with its body inclined. This 

 excursion lasted seven minutes, and the song continued the 

 whole of that time, excepting the last eight or ten seconds of 

 rapid descent. The second lark proceeded in the same man- 

 ner, and sung about five minutes, the third only four. 



My young friend, Mr Archibald Hepburn, whom I desired 

 to make observations on the subject, has sent me the following: 

 " On receiving your letter I began a series of observations on 

 the Lark. Friday 22d March. Larks sing from 30 seconds to 



1 minute 20 seconds. They generally hung in the wind for 

 some time, then drifted down it, till they descended, singing 

 all the while. Sunny. Wind high, cold, W. and S. Therm. 

 40°. Very few singing. — Saturday 2Sd. Larks sing for about 



2 minutes at most, then drop from a great elevation to the 

 ground, without uttering a note. Sunny. Wind W. and S. 

 Therm. 41°. — Sunday 24th. Larks sing for 2 minutes at most, 

 drop like a stone. Very few singing. Wind W. ; very 

 cloudy and cold. Therm. 41°. — Monday 25th, At 6 a. m. 

 Larks sing for 1 minute at most. So far as my observation 

 for one week extends, they seldom sing longer till the sun has 

 risen. Larks sing for 4 minutes at most. They sung in their 

 descent till they reached the ground. Wind W., very gentle. 

 Bright sunshine. Therm. 41°. — Tuesday 26th. Larks sing 



