CHAPTER V. 

 THE LARK. 



No bird is better known or more appreciated than the SKY- 

 LARK (Alauda arvensis ; family, Alaudidce). Its presence, 

 either when standing on the top of a molehill among the 

 flowers, raising its crest and scrutinising our movements, 

 or when carolling in the air above us, imparts a sense of 

 exhilaration not produced by the voice of any other of our 

 songsters. Its glossy, light-brown back and speckled breast, 

 with his long hind-claw as Drayton says, " The lark with 

 his long toe " and full eye, is readily distinguishable when 

 pert and erect on a clod ; but when alarmed it can crouch 

 and hide itself very effectually, and will not take wing till 

 almost trodden on, particularly in the breeding season. 



One of the earliest birds. The skylark often commences 

 its song at break of day ; hence the old saying, " Up with 

 the lark." Chaucer calls it 



" The merrye larke, the messenger of day." 

 And we all know Shakespeare's lines from " Cymbeline : " 



" Hark, hark ! the lark at heaven's gate sings, 

 And Phoebus 'gins to rise." 



Elliott calls it the " Bird of the Sun : " 



" The cloud of the rain is beneath thee, thou singest 

 Palaced in glory ; but morn hath begun 

 A dark day for man, while the sunbeam thou wingest, 

 Bird of the Sun, Bird of the Sun." 



As regards the skylark's song, careful observers have 



So 



