404 



THE SKYLARK. 



The Ortolan {Emheriz'i 

 hortidana). 



o-reat anxiety, and vast numbers are annually captured for the table. 

 These birds are not killed at once, as they would not be in proper con- 

 dition, but they are placed in a dark room, 

 so as to prevent them from moving about, 

 and are fed largely with oats and millet un- 

 til they become mere lumps of fat, weigh- 

 ing nearly three ounces, and are then killed 

 and sent to table. 



The coloring of this bird is as follows: 

 The head is gray with a green tinge, and 

 the back is ruddy brown beautifully mot- 

 tled with black. The wings are black, with 

 brown edges to the feathers ; the chin, throat, 

 and upper portions of the breast are green- 

 ish yellow ; and the abdomen is warm buff. 

 The total length of the Ortolan is rather 

 more than six inches. 



The Larks may be readily recognized 

 by the very great length of the claw of the 

 hind toe, the short and conical bill, and the 

 great length of tlie tertiary quill feathers of the wing, which are often 

 as long as the primaries. 



The first example of these birds is the well-known Skylark, so de- 

 servedly famous for its song and its aspiring character. 



This most interesting bird is happily a native of our land, and has 

 cheered many a sad heart by its blithe, jubilant notes as it wings sky- 

 ward on strong pinions or flatters between cloud and earth, pouring 

 out its very soul in its rich, wild melody. Early in the spring the 

 Lark begins its song, and continues its musical efforts for nearly eight 

 months, so that on almost every warm day of the year on which a coun- 

 try walk is practicable the Sky- 

 lark's happy notes may be heard 

 ringing throughout the air, long 

 after the bird which utters them 

 has dwindle^ to a mere speck, 

 hardly distinguishable from a 

 midge floating in the sunbeams. 

 The nest of the Skylark is 

 always placed on the ground, 

 and generally in some little 

 rp ,. , ,, depression, such as the imprint 



liiE bKYLAKK iAlaudu urv...), ,f ^ horse's hoof, the side of a 

 mole-hill, or the old furrow of a plough. It is very well concealed, 

 the top of the nest being only just on a level with the surface of 



