176 BIKDS OF NOKPOLK. 



^^ poised in air," but warbling from tbe ground, several 

 have simultaneously burst into song. In this position 

 also they may frequently be heard during the day, 

 when a person unaware of this habit, would look around 

 in vain for the songsters. So much, however, does the 

 soil itself assimilate with the plumage of these birds, 

 that often on a sunny day the fallows seem alive with 

 harmony, though scarce a feather can be seen, till a 

 fluttering wing or a pair amorously chasing each other 

 disclose the hidden vocalists. It were unnecessary for 

 me to dwell long upon the ordinary characteristics 

 of a bird so well known to every lover of nature ; 

 but I trust there are few wbo have not experienced 

 a thrill of pleasure, after a long and dreary winter, 

 when, on the first bright sunny morning, the sky- 

 lark's note, with all its pleasant associations, first 

 falls upon the ear. How instinctively one stops 

 to watch his upward flight, as with outspread quiver- 

 ing wings he slowly mounts, yet still his notes 

 come back upon the ear, clear and distinct in 

 all their rapturous fullness, though our eyes grow 

 dim with watching that small dark speck in the 

 clouds. Suddenly, at his greatest height, he makes a 

 slight detour, then steadying himself again, commences 

 his descent ; slowly at first and still singing loudly, till, 

 approaching the earth, he stops an instant, then darts 

 swiftly down, and skimming for a space above the 

 ground, alights once more. Besides singing from the 

 ground, as before stated, the sky-lark occasionally 

 perches on a wall or fence, and with swelling throat 

 and fluttering wings, pours forth its song, as from the 

 floor of a cage, but this is, I behove, more generally in 

 the breeding season, when its mate is sitting in some 

 neighbouring corn field; at least, I do not remember 

 noticing this habit at other seasons. In autumn, the 

 immense flocks which at times frequent our stubble 



