172 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



CHAPTER VII. 



The LAKES. The Skylark Its song Nestles on the ground 

 The BUNTINGS. A numerous race The Yellow Bunting, 

 or Yellow-hammer Abundance and beauty of this bird 

 Congregates with other field-birds in the winter The 

 Common Bunting A mischievous propensity of this bird 

 The Black-headed or Reed Bunting An inhabitant of 

 marshy places, and the sides of lakes and ponds The 

 Snow Bunting Affecting anecdote by Captain Lyon. 



WITH the LARKS commences the division of the 

 CONICAL-BEAKED PERCHERS ; a distinction drawn from 

 the form and great power of the beak. Many of 

 the birds in this division live almost entirely on 

 grain ; others on seeds ; and so great is the strength 

 of the bill in some, that they can even crack the 

 stones of various fruits, so as to get at the kernel. 



There are three or four species of larks, of 

 which the chief is the SKY-LARK that bird whose 

 joyous carol charms our ears and gladdens our 

 hearts; the loved herald of the morn; sung by 

 our great poet as such 



" Hark ! hark ! the lark at heaven's gate sings, 

 And Phoebus "gins to rise . . . . ^ . " 



On quivering wing the bird rises, almost perpen- 

 dicularly, and by successive springs, mounting 

 high and yet higher, singing as he goes, till he is 



