ALAUDA ARVENSIS. 357 



mountain finch in the Fringillina, and the goldfinch, siskin, 

 and linnets. Therefore I begin the circle of this tribe with 

 the larks, genus Alauda, of Linnaeus. 



The Sky-Lark. 



(Alauda Arvensis.) Linn. 



"The laverock shims the palace gay, 

 And o'er the cottage sings ; 

 For Nature smiles as sweet, I ween, 

 To shepherds as to kings." — Bums. 



The members of this genus inhabit links and grassy fields,, 

 and live chiefly on grain and seeds, but also on worms and 

 insects. They are easily known from the pipits and warblers 

 by their rounder head and more conical bill, also in singing 

 while ascending perpendicularly into the air by spiral gyres. 

 The best known and best songster of all the birds we have 

 being the sky-lark — the theme of more poetic tributes and songs 

 than any bird I know — and not without good cause ; for, as that 

 cheerful and varied song is poured forth on a fine summer 

 morning as he rises up into the clear blue sky until lost to 

 sight in his own unlimited cage " towards heaven's gates,"" 

 where, as Tennyson says, " The larks in heaven's cope sing" 

 till lost to sight in his own unlimited aerial cage, there is not, 

 nor can be, more sweet delight in music heard than in the open 

 field — where the green grass is the carpet, and the blue dome of 

 space the roof of that illimitable operatic hall, whose threshold 

 is immensity — than the little sky-lark's song — 



For as he soars upon the wing, 

 And makes the sunlit welkin ring, 

 The lark to me's a better king 



Than ermined clay ; 

 Then, blithely, little lav'rock, sing 



While bigots pray. 



No wonder that " pard-like spirit " of poesy, Shelley, rapturously 

 exclaims, in his poem " To a Sky-lark" — 



" Hail to thee, blithe spirit- 

 Bird thou never wert — 

 That from heaven, or near it, 

 Pourest thy full heart 

 In profuse strains of unpremeditated art. 



