WOODLARK. 87 



ALAUDA ARBOREA— WooDLARK. 



While high in air, and poised upon his wings 

 Unseen, the soft, enamoured, Woodlark runs 

 Through all his maze of melody. 



Gilbert White. 



The Thrush 

 And Woodlark, o'er the kind contending throng 

 Superior heard, run thro' the sweetest length 

 Of notes ; when listening Philomela deigns 

 To let them joy, and purposes, in thought 

 Elate, to make her night excel their day. 



Thomson— 5p?'m5'. 



The Woodlark is not a frequent bird in Herefordshire, but is 

 rather less rare in the northern and more wooded districts of the 

 county than on its southern side. Mr. Evans knew it well in the 

 midland district. He says of it: — "There is scarcely a day 

 through the long dreary winter that the Woodlark may not be 

 heard. His voice is not so loud or so varied as that of his 

 kinsman; it does not come forth in such a flood of joy and ecstacy 

 as that of the Skylark, but it is far dearer and sweeter, and seems 

 to tell a tale of deeper and more tender feeling " (p. 33). 



The plaintive Woodlark's strain, 



Heard in the midnight sky, 

 As if a spirit sang unseen 



To the bright stars marching by. 



Evans— /So^^s of the Birds. 



The Woodlark's song, says Mr. Johns, is superior in liquidness 

 of tone to the Skylark. As it flies from place to place, it may be 

 represented by the syllables " Lulu, lulu," and then it alights on 

 the summit of a lofty tree to " unthread its chaplet of musical 

 pearls." 



The Woodlark breathes in softest strain, the vow. 

 And love's soft burthen floats from bough to bough. 



liEYBaN— Scenes of Infancy. 



Oh stay, sweet warbling Woodlark, stay ! 

 Nor quit for me the trembling spray. 



BvRHB—The Woodlark. 



So calls the Woodlark in the grove 

 His little faithful mate to cheer ; 

 At once, 'tis music, and 'tis love. 



Burns— -Ban^s of Cree. 



