410 ALAUDID.E. 



but prefers cultivated districts, particularly uninclosed arable 

 land. Here in early spring its cheerful and exhilarating song, 

 fresh as the season, is the admiration of all. The bird rises 

 on quivering wing, almost perpendicularly, singing as he flies, 

 and gaining an elevation that is quite extraordinary, yet so 

 powerful is his voice, that his wild, joyous notes, may be 

 heard distinctly when the pained eye can trace his course no 

 longer. An ear well tuned to his song can even then 

 determine by the notes whether the bird is still ascending, 

 remaining stationary, or on the descent. When at a con- 

 siderable height, should a Hawk appear in sight, or the well- 

 known voice of his mate reach his ear, the wings are closed, 

 and he drops to the earth with the rapidity of a stone. 

 Occasionally the Sky Lark sings when on the ground ; but 

 his most lively strains are poured forth during flight ; and 

 even in confinement, this would-be tenant of the free air 

 tramples his turf and flutters his wings while singing, as if 

 muscular motion was with him a necessary accompaniment to 

 his music. 



The male Sky Lark is one of our most common cage-birds, 

 from the facility with which he is preserved in health under 

 confinement, and the general sprightlincss of his song ; yet 

 the notes of the Lark are more remarkable for variety and 

 power than for quality of tone ; what is wanted in quality 

 is, however, made up by quantity ; his strains are heard 

 during eight months of the year ; and in summer, Mr. 

 Jenyns observes, he begins to sing soon after two o''clock in 

 the morning, and continues with little intermission till after 

 sunset. 



The food of the Sky Lark is grain, seeds of grasses, va- 

 rious insects, and Avorms. They pair in April, and gene- 

 rally produce two broods in the summer. The nest is placed 

 on the ground, frequently sheltered by a tuft of herbage, or 

 a clod of earth. Graham e, in his poem on the Birds of 



