Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 275 



An observant friend has on different occasions known several 

 circular holes to be made by pairs of these birds, before fixing 

 upon one for their nest. The skylark occasionally exhibits 

 variety in its plumage, though less frequently than some 

 others of our small birds. The collection of my friend Wm. 

 Sinclaire, Esq., of Milltown, near Belfast, contains one of a 

 black colour, which was shot in a wild state among a flock, 

 and a white one is reported to me by a correspondent as in 

 his possession. The stomachs of several larks which 1 exa- 

 mined, especially in winter, contained seeds and the remains 

 of other vegetable matter, with an occasional insect-larva : 

 they all exhibited fragments of stone. 



As a sporting friend was shooting upon his moors in Ayr- 

 shire in the month of October, a lark pursued by a merlin 

 [Falco JEsalon) came from the distance of about a hundred 

 yards directly towards him and his servant, and alighted near 

 their feet, apparently for safety — when it reached the ground, 

 it is represented to have been so exhausted as to be unable 

 to close its wings. A lark which had its liberty within the 

 green-house of a relative, lived eight years there, and was 

 eventually lost to him, by effecting its escape. 



Nowhere perhaps is the skylark more sought for as a 

 cage-bird than in Ireland, and the song given forth "right 

 merrilie " from the little patch of green-sward within its pri- 

 son seems to imply that the bird bears confinement well. 

 Nevertheless, it is always with regret that we see the lark, 

 whose nature is to pierce the clouds when singing, so circum- 

 scribed, and we cannot but wish for its own sake that it had 

 the freedom of "fresh fields and pastures new;" yet we do 

 not, like a class of persons in the world, think only of the 

 skylark. To the poor artisan in the town this bird is of 

 great service in enlivening him with its song, associated with 

 which in his mind are doubtless scenes in the country, the 

 love of which is instinctive to the human breast. The lark 

 too is generally treated with affectionate care, and the first 

 walk of its master in the very early morning before the day's 

 task begins, has for its object the jiroviding of a " fresh sod " 

 for his pet bird*. ' 



* The following anecdote, communicated by my venerable friend Dr. 

 M'Uonnell of Belfast, shows the high value once \nit upon a skylark : — 

 " A rather poor cliandler in Belfast, called Huggart, had a lark remarkable 

 for its song. Mr. Hull, a dancing-master and great bird-fancier, going into 

 his shop one day, said, he came to purchase his bird. ' Indeed,' replied the 

 other, ' I do not think, Mr. Hull, you are likely to get home thai bird, wliich 

 delights all my neighbours as well as myself.' ' Well, I think 1 am,' was the 

 reply : ' here are five guineas for it.' The sum was instantly refused, when 

 ten guineas were offered, but also rejected. He was then told, ' It is now 



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