620 ALATJDID^. 



weather, and at this time they do a considerable amount of 

 damage to the autumn-sown wheat, if the ground be free 

 from snow, and to such green crops as they may find.* The 

 return of the emigrant hosts in spring has been noticed, but 

 not by many observers, and doubtless there are comparatively 

 few survivors of the perils of the outward voyage. 



In the literature of our country the Skylark unquestion- 

 ably holds the foremost place. There is hardly a British 

 poet or poetaster who has not made it his theme, and a 

 volume might be filled with extracts describing or alluding 

 to its habits, its marvellous power of song especially, while, 

 from the prevalence of the species and the way in which it 

 thrusts itself on observation, these passages are generally 

 far more truthful than most productions of a muse-inspired 

 fancy. Several gifted writers of prose have equally cele- 

 brated the Skylark's qualities in words not less expressive 

 and beautiful, but to the multitude there is perhaps another 

 reason why it is the one of the best known of the feathered 

 tribes. From the number of male Skylarks sold for cage- 

 birds and the high price which the best songsters among 

 them command, various means are used to entrap them, 

 yet it is rather the excellence of the species for the table, its 

 abundance and the ease with which it is taken that form the 

 great incentive to the Lark-catcher. Out of the vast flocks 

 which as already mentioned assemble in autumn, thousands 

 are caught by dragging nets over the stubbles and fallows at 

 night, and by day even more are enticed by a call-bird within 

 the reach of clap-nets. Hundreds are also snared in time 

 of snow; while, during the "flight", scores are uselessly 

 shot, attracted by a piece of wood beset with bits of looking- 

 glass, and made to revolve rapidly. The glittering of this 

 simple engine is perhaps, as Mr. Knox has suggested to the 

 Editor, mistaken for the gleam of running water by the 



• The silly pi-actice of destroying Larks by means of poisoned gi'ain scattered 

 over the fields, which a few years ago was becoming general, has been very pro- 

 perly stopped by the legislature. At that time of year it coixld have no appre- 

 ciable effect on their numbers, and was either dangerous to human life or else a 

 mere waste of good food, for the birds had far better have been netted and eaten. 



