SKYLARK. 325 



attained its wished-for elevation, and while remain- 

 ing poised in the air, so high as frequently to be 

 known only by its song faintly heard. It frequently 

 also continues its song in a gradual descent, but 

 upon any alarm it is suddenly stopped, the wings 

 closed, and it falls as it were a stone to the ground 

 in a line often very slightly slanting. When 

 the duties of incubation have passed, the birds 

 begin to congregate, and by the commencement 

 of the winter months, flocks here assemble in the 

 stubble and fallow fields, their melody gone for a 

 time, their only note being a short chirrup when 

 raised or disturbed. When severe weather ad- 

 vances, they retire to the lowest grounds, and to 

 the vicinity of the sea shore, and it is immediately 

 previous to or about this time, that the partial 

 movements and migrations take place, and we 

 receive a compensation for what we lose in flocks 

 from countries lying more northerly than our 

 own. The Skylark never perches on trees, but 

 is entirely terrestrial, walking and running with 

 facility and swiftness, and never hopping in the 

 manner of the finches. On the approach of 

 danger it squats in any irregularity, hole, or foot 

 print in the ground, and before a pointer will 

 thus continue until approached within a yard. 

 They also bask in the sun, and dust themselves 

 like the rasores, and we have frequently seen 

 the basking places strewed with feathers, and re- 

 sembling those of a covey of partridges. The 

 nest is placed on the ground, sometimes close 

 to some hillock, and generally more or less 



