482 SONG OF SKY-LARK. 



it then came down with the rapidity of an arrow. — 15th May. 

 During this forenoon, the ground being covered with snow to 

 the depth of about six inches, and the thermometer at 46°, I 

 noticed several singing in the air ; none of them however con- 

 tinued more than half a minute. — l6th May. Between four 

 and six o'clock this morning, most of the Larks sung upon the 

 ground, or on the top of a wall ; some of them ascending in the 

 air ; their song did not exceed two minutes in duration. It 

 was a cold north*west wind, the thermometer 38°. During 

 the whole of the day I did not hear another. — l7th May. Be- 

 tween one and two o'clock this morning, several Larks were 

 singing, some upon the ground, and others appeared in the air. 

 Their song did not continue above two minutes. About three 

 o'clock they all ceased, and were not heard again during the 

 day. Thermometer in the morning 88°, at noon 50°. It blew 

 a hurricane from the south-west. About twenty minutes after 

 nine o'clock in the evening, I heard one sing for about three 

 minutes. — Monday, 20th May. Clear and sunny, with a cold 

 wind from the north-west ; thermometer 54°. I watched their 

 motions from eleven to five o'clock. During that time I heard 

 and saw a great many. Only one sang four and a half mi- 

 nutes ; another three and a half ; all the rest not above two 

 minutes. — 21st May. This day, which was sunny, with a 

 cold and strong wind from the north, the thermometer 46°, 

 very few sang, and of those which did, none continued above 

 two minutes. — 25th ISIay. During the afternoon, when the 

 wind was in the south-west, and the thermometer 56°, I saw 

 two Larks singing in the air, one of them continued six, the 

 other five minutes. — 27th JNIay. Very sunny, but the wind 

 cold, from the noth-west, and the thermometer 50°. I heard 

 and saw a great many singing ; none of them however con- 

 tinued above three minutes. — 28th May. Bright sunshine, 

 wind south-east, thermometer 60°. I saw a considerable num- 

 ber this forenoon. Between eleven and twelve, I observed one 

 singing in the air for about eight minutes. Two or three con- 

 tinued five ; some four, and several about three minutes." 



