176 BIRDS OF NORrOLK. 



"poised in air," but warbling from the ground, several 

 have simultaneously burst into song. In tbis position 

 also tbey may frequently be beard during tbe day, 

 wben a person unaware of tbis babit, would look around 

 in vain for tbe songsters. So mucb, bowever, does tbe 

 soil itself assimilate with tbe plumage of tbese birds, 

 tbat often on a sunny day tbe fallows seem alive witb 

 barmony, tbougb scarce a featber can be seen, till a 

 fluttering wing or a pair amorously cbasing eacb otber 

 disclose tbe bidden vocalists. It were unnecessary for 

 me to dwell long upon tbe ordinary cbaracteristics 

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

 but I trust tbere are few wbo bave not experienced 

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

 wben, on tbe first brigbt sunny morning, tbe sky- 

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

 falls upon tbe ear. How instinctively one stops 

 to watcb bis upward fligbt, as witb outspread quiver- 

 ing wings be slowly mounts, yet stiU bis notes 

 come back upon tbe ear, clear and distinct in 

 all tbeir rapturous fullness, tbougb our eyes grow 

 dim witb watcbing tbat small dark speck in tbe 

 clouds. Suddenly, at bis greatest beigbt, be makes a 

 sligbt detour, tben steadying bimself again, commences 

 bis descent ; slowly at first and stiU singing loudly, till, 

 approacbing tbe eartb, be stops an instant, tben darts 

 swiftly down, and skimming for a space above tbe 

 ground, aligbts once more. Besides singing from tbe 

 ground, as before stated, tbe sky-lark occasionally 

 percbes on a wall or fence, and witb swelling tbroat 

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

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

 the breeding season, when its mate is sitting in some 

 neighbouring corn field; at least, I do not remember 

 noticing tbis habit at other seasons. In autumn, the 

 immense flocks which at times frequent our stubble 



