SONG OF SKY-LARK. 473 



for 4^ minutes at most. AVind W., colder than yesterday, and 

 fewer Larks singing. Cloudy. Therm. 44^°.— Wednesday 27th. 

 Larks sing for 4g minutes at most. I observed one sing for about 

 half a minute on the ground, after his descent. Very warm 

 and cloudy. Wind VV. Therm. 47°.— Thursday 28th. The 

 Lark's song lasted nearly 4 minutes at most. They sung 

 during their descent. Wind N. and E. A thick mist all 

 day. Therm. 38°.— Friday 29th. The Lark's song lasted 

 nearly 4 minutes at most. Wind S.E. ; cloudy. Therm. 89°. 

 — Saturday 80th. I observed one Lark sing for 6 minutes, 

 but generally their song did not last above 2 or 3 minutes at 

 most. The day very cold and cloudy. Very few birds were 

 singing. Wind S.W. Therm. 38°.— Sunday 81st. Very 

 high winds from S.W. Therm. 88°. No larks singing to- 

 day. So far as my little experience goes, I would say that a 

 high wind has more influence on the duration of the Lark's 

 song than a low temperature has. On the morning of the 15th 

 February last, the ground was covered with snow to the depth 

 of one inch. Just as the sun lifted his head above the snow- 

 clad Lammermoors, a Sky-Lark uprose to meet his gladdening 

 rays. His song was very distinct. After singing for 2 minutes 

 he again descended. It was intensely cold at the time, but 

 there was no wind. On the 26th February, I observed one 

 alight on a well-trimmed hedge, and remain there for about 

 one minute, singing all the while. I am inclined to think, 

 from observation, that they sing more on the ground when the 

 wind is high than when it is calm. In a fine night in June, 

 their song may be heard till about 10 o'clock, and as early as 

 2 in the morning. I never observed this bird sing longer than 

 15 minutes. On the 29th September last, I observed several 

 Sky-Larks sing after a silence of nearly six weeks. At this 

 season, it was first heard at 8 a.m., and never after 3 p.m. 

 The song seldom lasted above 6 minutes at a time. Its average 

 duration might be about 3 minutes. On the 12th October, I 

 observed several singing very briskly at 8 p.m., notwithstanding 

 the high winds, and it was so cold that there was ice on all 

 the pools till noon, and several showers of hail fell during the 

 day. A few days before and after the 19th October, their 



