THE SKYLARK. 251 



until it is almost lost in the sky ; and when it has attained 

 its highest flight it comes warbling down to join its mate. 



Slow the descent at first, then by degrees 

 Quick and more quick, till suddenly the note 

 Ceases ; and like an arrow-fledge he darts. 

 And, softly lighting, perches by her side. 



Grahame. 



It sometimes, however, sings when on the ground. Mr. 

 Archibald Hepburn, Whittinghame, East-Lothian, observed 

 that the duration of each song in early spring was about 

 two or three minutes, and, during summer, not longer 

 than a quarter of an hour at the most. It is occa- 

 sionally heard singing in September and October, but the 

 notes are then generally more broken than in spring and 

 summer. The association of the song of the Lark with 

 happiness and freedom in this county in olden times, is 

 referred to by David Hume of Godscroft, in his History of 

 the Douglases, who says, with reference to Archibald, sixth 

 Earl of Angus, son of " Archibald Bell-the-Cat," that during 

 the siege of Tantallon Castle, in 1528, "the Earle himselfe 

 remained at Billie in the Merse, within his barony of Bonkle, 

 not willing to shut himself up within the wals of any 

 strength, having ever in his mouth this maxime (which he 

 had received from his predecessours) that it was better to 

 hear the Lark sing than the mouse cheep." ^ When a 

 person is heard whistling joyously in the county at the 

 present day, a popular remark sometimes made is, that he 

 is " whistling like a Laverock." 



The Skylark is a partial migrant in Berwickshire, and 

 although some remain with us throughout the year, yet com- 

 paratively few stay over the winter ; the great majority de- 

 parting towards the south in autumn, and returning in spring. 

 In summer it is found in pairs more or less throughout 



1 History of the House and Race of Douglas and Angus, by David Hume of 

 Godscroft, p. 259. 



