180 ALAUDID^E. 



speck ; but, as far as my experience goes, it never rises so 

 high as to defy the search of a keen eye. Having reached 

 its highest 'elevation, its ambition is satisfied without 

 making any permanent stay, and it begins to descend, 

 not with a uniform downward motion, but by a series 

 of droppings with intervals of simple hovering, during 

 which, it seems to be resting on its wings. Finally, as 

 it draws near the earth, it ceases its song and descends 

 more rapidly, but before it touches the ground it recovers 

 itself sweeps away with almost horizontal flight for a 

 short distance and disappears in the herbage. The time 

 consumed in this evolution is at the most from fifteen to 

 twenty minutes, more frequently less; nor have I ever 

 observed it partially descend and soar upwards again. A 

 writer in the Magazine of Natural History maintains that 

 " those acquainted with the song of the Skylark, can tell, 

 without looking at them, whether the birds be ascending or 

 stationary in the air, or on their descent ; so different is 

 the style of the song in each case." Mr. Yarrell is of the 

 same opinion, and I have little doubt that they are correct, 

 though I am not certain that I have myself attained 

 the skill of discriminating. In July, the Lark ceases its 

 soarings and song together, but in fine weather, in October, 

 it receives a new inspiration and is musical again. From 

 time to time, during winter, if the season be mild, it 

 resumes its aerial habits, but it neither ascends so high 

 nor sings so long, two or three minutes becoming now the 

 limits of its performance. Like most other birds, it sings 

 least about noon and the first two hours of the afternoon : 

 but it begins before sunrise, having been heard at mid 

 summer as early as two o'clock in the morning, and it 

 sometimes continues its song till late on into the night, 

 having been heard at ten o'clock, when it was quite dark. 

 Occasionally, too, it sings on the ground; and, in a cage, 

 as all the world knows, it pours out its melody with as 

 much spirit, as if its six inches of turf could be measured 



