SKY LARK. 473 



of Europe, but prefers cultivated districts, particularly 

 uninclosed arable land. Here in early spring its cheerful 

 and exhilarating song, fresh as the season, is the admiration 

 of all. The bird rises on quivering wing, almost perpen- 

 dicularly, singing as he flies, and gaining an elevation that 

 is quite extraordinary, yet so powerful is his voice, that 

 his wild, joyous notes may be heard distinctly when the 

 pained eye can trace his course no longer. An ear well 

 tuned to his song can even then determine by the notes 

 whether the bird is still ascending, remaining stationary, 

 or on the descent. When at a considerable height, should 

 a Hawk appear in sight, or the well-known voice of his 

 mate reach his ear, the wings are closed, and he drops to 

 the earth with the rapidity of a stone. Occasionally the 

 Sky Lark sings when on the ground ; but his most lively 

 strains are poured forth during flight ; and even in con- 

 finement, this would-be tenant of the free air tramples his 

 turf and flutters his wings while singing, as if muscular 

 motion was with him a necessary accompaniment to his 

 music. 



The male Sky Lark is one of our most common cage- 

 birds, from the facility with which he is preserved in health 

 under confinement, and the general sprightliness of his song ; 

 yet the notes of the Lark are more remarkable for variety 

 and power than for quality of tone ; what is wanted in 

 quality is, however, made up by quantity ; his strains are 

 heard during eight months of the year ; and in summer, 

 Mr. Jenyns observes, he begins to sing soon after two 

 o'clock in the morning, and continues with little inter- 

 mission till after sunset. 



An instance has come to my knowledge of a Sky Lark 

 that lived nineteen years and a half in a cage. 



The food of the Sky Lark is grain, seeds of grasses, 

 various insects, and worms. They pair in April, and gene- 



