16 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



consecutively, and then, as if seized with an uncon- 

 trollable impulse, rush up into the air to deliver a 

 brief song, descend, and repeat the process for hours. 

 They have a way, too, of rising but six or eight yards 

 above the earth, spreading the wings ou* and keeping 

 them nearly still, floating slowly fo ward, all the while 

 uttering one sweet note softly. The sward by the 

 roadside appears to have a special attraction for 

 them ; they constantly come over from the arable 

 fields, alight there, and presently return. In the early 

 spring, when love-making is in full progress, the 

 cornfields where the young green blades are just 

 showing become the scene of the most amusing 

 rivalry. Far as the eye can see across the ground it 

 seems alive with larks chasing each other to and 

 fro, round and round, with excited calls, flying close 

 to the surface, continually alighting, and springing 

 up again. A gleam of sunshine and a warm south 

 wind bring forth these merry antics. So like in general 

 hue is the lark to the lumps of brown earth that even 

 at a few paces it is difficult to distinguish her. Some 

 seem always to remain in the meadows ; but the 

 majority frequent the arable land, and especially the 

 cornfields on the slopes of the downs, where they 

 may be found in such numbers as rival or perhaps 

 exceed those of any other bird. 



At first sight starlings seem more numerous ; but 

 this arises from their habit of gathering together in 

 such vast flocks, blackening the earth where they 

 alight. But you may walk a whole day across the 



