334 INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



awakening earth, or hearken to the cheerful influence of its 

 song as described by Milton : — 



" To hear the Lark begin his flight 

 And singing startle the dull night ; 

 From his watch-tower in the skies, 

 'Til the dappled morn doth rise, 

 Then to come in spite of sorrow, 

 And at my window bid good-morrow." 



L' Allegro. 



Calculations as to the usefulness of the bird are lost sight 

 of ; and a part from them altogether, men, by universal consent, 

 pay homage to the joy-inspiring minstrel, whose note is ever 

 fresh and ever gladsome. By Thomson he is desciibed as 



-" The messenger of morn, 



Ere yet the shadows fly, he mounted sings, 

 Amid the dawning clouds, and from their haunts 

 Calls up the tuneful nations." — Spring. 



The Lark is universally distributed over Europe, and 

 descriptions akin to these are everywhere current. Who then 

 could wish that the Zoologist and the Poet should move in 

 separate paths ? Who would not desire that the Poet should 

 proclaim the truths which the objects around him teach, and 

 lead man to regard them as volumes which the Creator has 

 unfolded for his perusal ? 



Fringillidw.* — Associated with the Larks in one extensive 

 family containing nearly thii-ty native species, are the Buntings, 

 the Finches, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, and some who as songsters 

 are justly prized, as the Goldfinch, the Linnet, and the Bull- 

 finch ; also the singular Crossbill, whose beak would seem 

 deformed and useless, did not a knowledge of the manner iu 

 which it is employed in opening the cones of the fir-tree 

 show that it is in reality a most efficient instrument for its 

 destined purpose. 



Sturnidce. — The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris,^ Fig. 

 2G7) is the representative of another family. It is well known 

 for its power of imitating sounds ; and from an eai'ly age has 

 in our minds been associated with Sterne's well-known words, 



* Latin FringiUa, a ChafTmch. 



f Thia figure, and that of the Gull (284) are copied from Bewick. 



