448 ALAUDID^I. 



countries of Europe, but prefers cultivated districts, parti- 

 cularly 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, al- 

 most perpendicularly, 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. Oc- 

 casionally the Sky Lark sings when on the ground ; but 

 his most lively strains are poured forth during flight ; 

 and even in confinement, 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 accom- 

 paniment 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 in- 

 termission till after sunset. 



An instance has lately 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, 



