110 THE WOODLARK. 



and build their nests. Then it is that the 

 woodlark, seated on a tree near his mate, pours 

 forth his most delightful songs. As soon as the 

 young ones come out of the shell, he engages 

 busily with the mother-bird in providing for 

 their wants. The nest is made on the ground, 

 in furrows, covered with grass and brambles, 

 and usually on the borders of a wood. But it 

 is only in spring, summer, and autumn, that 

 the woodlarks are to be found in these retreats. 

 At the close of Autumn, they quit these summer 

 haunts, and retire into the open stoney fields ; here 

 they assemble in flocks of from thirty to fifty in 

 number, never mingling with any other species. 

 Their summer songs are then no longer heard, 

 and they utter only a plaintive sort of cry, re- 

 sembling the syllables lu-lu, from whence they 

 derive the name given them by the French na- 

 turalists. 



THE WOODLARK. 



Dost thou love to hear the song-birds of spring ? 



Are their notes as voices of joy to thee ? 

 Then fly to the grove where the woodlarks sing, 



Rejoicing once more in their vernal glee. 

 The spring time is come, the winter is past, 



And the \voo;llarks' songs are cheerful once more : 



