THE SKY-LARK. 117 



she were taken from the young ones, she flew to them 

 as soon as liberated; and if the young were torn from 

 her, she went to them as soon as possible, not thinking 

 of effecting her own escape. So far from her affection 

 being diminished, it increased ; she neglected both food 

 and drink ; she even required the same support as her 

 adopted offspring, and at last expired, " consumed," says 

 the narrator, " with maternal anxiety." Nor was this 

 all : none of the young ones survived her ; they died 

 one after another, for want of the tender care which she 

 had bestowed. 



The number of sky-larks is very great, and in autumn 

 their flocks are more numerous than almost any other 

 species of our land birds. They prefer the lighter soils, 

 where earthworms abound. In the midland counties, 

 they are commonly in the open fields, near the chalk, 

 and as they feed and nestle on the ground, they are 

 captured in great numbers as an article of food. 



