156 SKYLARK. 



see it returning once more, drawing nearer and nearer 

 to earth again, till suddenly, with wings closed, it 

 drops like a stone to the ground, and its song is heard 

 no more. It is very interesting to watch the different 

 modes in which a Skylark descends from its height 

 in the air. Sometimes, closing its wings, it will come 

 down as though it were shot to within a short distance 

 of the ground, when, opening them, it will skim along 

 for a short distance and alight ; at other times it will 

 gradually lower itself, floating gently downwards with 

 outstretched wings till it reaches the ground. 



Perhaps there is no more popular cage bird than 

 the Skylark, for it is easily tamed, and will sing while 

 standing upon its bit of turf as cheerfully as though 

 it were soaring away skywards. As a matter of senti- 

 ment, however, it seems hard upon the happy little 

 songster to deprive him of his liberty. 



The Skylark has already been described under the 

 heading of the Woodlark. The upper parts are brown, 

 with dark-centred feathers, the under parts huffish 

 white, darkly streaked on the breast. Its food con- 

 sists of grain, seeds and insects. This bird is hardly 

 ever known to perch on a tree ; it is always either 

 in the air or on the ground. 



The nest is built on the ground. It is a flimsy 

 construction, said to be entirely the work of the 

 female, the male supplying the materials. It is made 

 of grass, and lined with finer grass, rootlets, and 

 sometimes a few hairs. It is generally placed in fields. 

 Often it seems to be placed by the roadside. Twice 

 this year I have found the nest on a grassy bank 

 protected by a tuft, and within three feet of the road. 



The eggs, three to five in number, are white or 

 greenish white in ground colour, variously marked 



