44 

 THE SKY LARK. 



Alauda Arvefisis. 



The crested herald of the morn, that springs 



Up from his grassy flight, 

 Seeming to rain down music from his wings. 



And bathe his plumage in the fount of light. 



Description. The upper part of the body is 

 brownish, mixed with dark spots. The breast and sides 

 are of a gray brown, spotted ; underneath the belly, a 

 muddy white. Length, seven inches, to seven and a half. 

 This color, however, sometimes changes, when caged, 

 according to the food given him, and the room where 

 kept in. This beautiful warbler is spread all over Europe, 

 and has the most peculiar manner of flying of any of the 

 feathered tribe, its movement being invariably upwards, 

 in a perpendicular line ; after leaving his grassy abode, 

 beginning his melodious song, which he continues un- 

 ceasingly till nearly out of sight (sometimes completely 

 out of sight), looking like a mere speck, towards the 

 heavens, and even then you may hear his sweet voice 

 dying away, as if in the clouds ; when he descends, in 

 like manner, still continuing to gratify his hearers be- 

 low with his own peculiar melody, till within a short 

 distance from his nest, — then silently alighting, hiding 

 himself in the grass, fearing as if by instinct, some 

 straggling wanderers were watching his movements, and 

 find out the spot to „rob a bird's nest," when he creeps 

 along, quite unseen, to visit his home and little family. 



