165 



THE SKYLARK. 



CHAPTER XII. 



LARKS AND PIPETS. 



THE family of Alaudine birds Alaudince is divided 

 by Macgillivray and others into six genera, only two 

 of which, however, have representatives in this country : 

 these are the Alauda, or Lark genus, and the Anthus or 

 Pipet genus, in each of which there are four British spe- 

 cies. The best known of them all is the SKY, or FIELD 

 LARK, or LAVEROCK (Alauda arvensis), the ethereal min- 

 strel that the poets have so loved to honour ; that little 

 plain brown bird, whose exulting song charms and 

 delights alike old and young, gentle and simple ; that 

 makes its nest in lowly places, and rises from thence, like 

 an impersonification of praise, to sing at heaven's gate ; 

 that speck in the sunshine, which Shelley thus addresses : 



Hail to thee, blithe spirit ! 



Bird thou never wert, 

 That from heaven, or near it, 



Pourest thy full heart 

 In profuse strains of unpremeditated art. 



Yes, well might Christopher North exclaim 



