io8 BIRD LIFE GLIMPSES 



has hung singing, the bird sweeps along, for a little, 

 at one level — which is a terrace — then dives, again, to 

 another one, a little below it, sweeps along on that, 

 descends to a third, and so on, down to the ground. 

 There is, indeed, a good deal of individual variety 

 in the way in which larks fly — at least between any 

 two or more that one may see doing the same thing 

 at the same time — soaring, descending, and so on. 

 The flight itself is of many kinds — as the ordinary, 

 the mount up to the watch-tower ('* from his watch- 

 tower in the skies "), the hanging, motionless, on 

 extended wings, the descent, the serene on-sailing, 

 without a stroke, as of the eagle ; and, again, the 

 suspension, with wings lightly quivering, as the 

 kestrel hovers. But how diflFerent is the character 

 impressed upon these last ! What the eagle does in 

 majesty, and the hawk in rapine, that the lark does 

 in beauty only, in music of motion and song. 



All this, of course, is in the spring and summer 

 only. In the winter, when they flock, larks fly low 

 over the land, and this they all do in much the 

 same way. Though most of their poetry is now 

 gone, or lies slumbering, yet they are still interest- 

 ing little birds to watch. They walk or run briskly 

 along the ground, and continually peck down upon 

 it, with a quick little motion of the head. They 

 appear to direct each peck with precision, and to get 

 something each time, but what I cannot say. It 

 may be anything, as long as it is minute ; that seems 

 to be the principle — so that, as one sees nothing, it 

 is like watching a barmecide feast. Larks never 

 hop, I believe, when thus feeding, though some- 

 times the inequalities of the ground give them the 



