132 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



preferred to the sheltered; and in the little low 

 valleys, where one would expect the birds to con- 

 gregate at such a time, the lark-catcher would 

 toil in vain. 



No bird is so easily netted as the lark; he 

 generally starts from the ground just before the 

 lower edge of the net touches him, and invariably 

 mounts perpendicularly. This characteristic pro- 

 pensity to ascend at once may be observed by 

 any person who " treads up " a lark in a field, and 

 satisfactorily illustrated by releasing, at the same 

 moment, a newly captured lark and a sparrow 

 from a cage or hat within the precincts of a room. 

 While the sparrow will fly off horizontally, dash 

 himself against the window, and lie almost stunned 

 from the shock, the lark will generally mount up- 

 wards to the ceiling,* and flutter there for a time, 

 in vain efforts to reach the sky, before he attempts 

 any other mode of exit: but this habit is fatal 

 to him in the netting season ; he might frequently 

 escape, as indeed the bunting, or clod-bird, 



* Since the first publication of the ' Rambles ' I have 

 met with the following remark in Bechstein's ' Natural 

 History of Cage Birds.' " The top of the cage (the lark's) 

 should be of linen, since from its tendency to rise for 

 flight it would run the risk of wounding its head against a 

 covering of wood or iron wire, especially before it is well 

 tamed." 



