, The WoodlarL 247 



Alas ! it's no thy neebor sweet, 

 The bonnie Lark, companion meet ! 

 Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet ! 



Wi' speckled breast, 



When upward springing, blythe to greet 

 The purpling east." 



BURNS. 



" Early, cheerful, mounting Lark, 

 Light's gentle usher, morning's clerk, 

 In merry notes delighting." 



SIR JOHN DAVIS. 



THE WOODLAKK, (Alauda arborea.) 



THIS species is smaller than the skylark, and its voice 

 deeper ; it has also a circle of white feathers encompass- 

 ing the head, from eye to eye, like a crown or wreath, 

 and the utmost feather of the wing is much shorter tban 

 the second, whereas in the common lark they are nearly 

 equal. This bird sometimes emulates the nightiDgale; 

 for which, when pouring forth his sweet melody in the 

 grove, during a silent night, he is often mistaken. These 

 birds sit and perch upon trees, unlike the common lark, 

 which always keeps to the ground. They build their 

 nest at the foot of a bush, near the bottom of a hedge, or 

 in high dry grass. The number of their eggs is about 

 four, of a pale bloom colour, beautifully mottled, and 

 clouded with red and yellow. Like the skylark, they 

 assemble in large flocks during frosty weather. Their 

 usual food consists of small beetles, caterpillars, and other 



