THE LARK, 279 



and saw that the chief portion of the structure consisted of 

 a mass of Buckmans grass, without any mixture, but so 

 compactly and firmly basketed together, as to be impenetrable 

 to the rain. This is the commencement of the structure; 

 and each bird builds its particular nest under this canopy, 

 the upper surface remaining void without, however, being 

 useless ; for, as it has a projecting rim and is a little inclined, 

 it serves to let the rain water run off and preserve each little 

 dwelling from the rain. Figure to yourself a huge, irregular, 

 sloping roof, all the eaves of which are completely covered 

 with nests crowded one against another, and you will have 

 a tolerably accurate idea of these singular edifices. Each 

 individual nest is three or four inches in diameter, which is 

 sufficient for the bird. But as they are all in contact with 

 one another around the eaves, they appear to the eye to 

 form one building and are distinguishable from each other 

 only by a little external aperture which serves as an entrance 

 to the nest; and even this is sometimes common to three 

 different nests, one of which is situated at the bottom and the 

 other two at the sides." One of these structures examined 

 by Patterson contained three hundred and twenty inhabited 

 cells. 



The Lark. The skylark is common all over Europe and is 

 an especial favourite in the British Isles. It builds its nest 

 on the ground among growing com or high grass, and shows 

 especial care for its young. Its song is perhaps the most 

 joyous and inspiriting of those of English birds. Captain 

 Brown quote*the following interesting particulars of its song 

 from a communication made by Mr. J. Main to the " Magazine 

 of Natural History:" "His joyous matins and heavenward 

 flight have been aptly compared to hymns and acts of adoration 

 and praise. No bird sings with more method: there is an 

 overture performed vivace crescendo, while the singer ascends ; 

 when at the full height, the song becomes moderate, and 

 distinctly divided into short passages, each repeated three or 



