SKYLARK. (315 



cultivated districts, and particularly arable land. Here in 

 early spriu_2f its cheerful and exhilarating song, fresh as the 

 season, is the admiration of all. The bird rises on quivering 

 wing, almost perpendicularly, singing as he flies, and, even 

 after gaining an extraordinary elevation, so powerful is his 

 voice, that his wild, joyous notes may be heard distinctly 

 when the pained eye can trace his course no longer, but an 

 ear well tuned to his song can yet determine by the notes 

 whether he is still ascending, stationary or on the descent, 

 for the strain is continued on his downward course till he 

 approaches the ground, when it stops abruptly, and with a 

 headlong dart the bird alights. The appearance of a Merlin 

 also will cause the sudden cessation of the song — at what- 

 ever height the performer may be, his wings are closed and 

 he drops to the earth like a falling stone ; the Kestrel, how- 

 ever, is treated with indifference, and in the presence of a 

 Sparrow-Hawk the Skjdark knows that safety is to be sought 

 aloft. Occasionally he sings when standing near his mate, 

 or more rarely when perched on a bush ; but his most lively 

 strains are poured forth during flight, and even in confine- 

 ment this " scorner of the ground" tramples his turf and 

 flutters his wings while singing, as if muscular motion was 

 with him a necessary accompaniment to his music*. 



The Skylark is one of our most popular cage-birds, from 

 the ease with which its health is preserved in captivity!, and 

 the general sprightliness of its song ; yet the notes are more 



* Mr.W. P. Foster of Hackney, wlio was very successful in inducing this 

 bird to breed in confinement, informed the Author that during the period of 

 producing the eggs the female has been heard to sing with a power and variety 

 of tone equal to her mate, but the Editor is not aware of any other authority for" 

 such a statement though Eechstein says that she will at times utter a few bars. 



t Several cases are known of Skylarks living nineteen or twenty years in 

 captivity, and many instances of their breeding in confinement are recorded. 

 Much has been written against the practice of caging this bird, and no one has 

 more strongly expressed his detestation of it and his pity for the imprisoned 

 " Ariel of song" than Broderip (Zool. llecreati'>ns, p. 18); but the question has 

 two sides. Wo should not, as Thompson well obsei-ves (B. Ireld. i. p. 233), 

 " tkhik only of the shjUtrJc." How numerous are the poor artisans in our 

 crowded towns, the bedridden sufferers, who from one year's end to another 

 would never enjoy the delight, in many cases the solace, of hearing its song did 



