324 SKYLARK. 



THE SKYLARK, ALAUDA ARVENSTS, Linn 



Alauda arvensis, Linn. Common Field or Sky- 

 lark of British authors. This well known bird 

 and favourite songster is plentifully distributed 

 over the whole of our islands, though in the more 

 northern isles it is said to be only a summer 

 visitant. In a country where the plough was 

 little known, and the cultivation of the grains 

 had not commenced, we would consider the 

 natural localities of the Skylark to be extensive 

 ranges of grass or pasture land, not lying too 

 low, yet scarcely reaching to what might be 

 generally termed a sub-alpine country. In the 

 present state of our lands, it is a close attendant 

 on cultivation, finding shelter or food among our 

 crops, and enlivening the labours of the husband- 

 man by its cheerful and peculiar song. Grazing 

 lands, however, are still its favourite range, and 

 it is often found in considerable abundance where 

 the upland sheep pastures begin to commence. 

 In these localities, and among the hay crops, it 

 builds or forms its nest, and rears its young. 

 The male, during the time of incubation, singing 

 from clod or tuft, a little elevated, or rising above 

 the spot with a rapid motion of the wings, and 

 during ascent pouring forth that melody which 

 has been so often the theme of our more homely 

 poets, and is a marked illustration with all who 

 describe the accessaries to rural scenery. The 

 song is continued for a considerable time without 

 interruption, during the ascent and after having 



