NATURE'S CHOIR. ( 75 



sending forth the most ravishing song until he 

 reaches his zenith. Then he hovers and sings 

 in the most bewitching manner ; then, revers- 

 ing in gradually narrowing circles, he descends 

 until near the ground, when his song suddenly 

 ceases, and he drops obliquely and silently to 

 the earth. 



"The lark, my child; 

 The morn has just looked out and smiled, 

 When he starts from his grassy nest, 

 And is up and away with the dew on his breast, 

 And a hymn in his heart, to yon pure bright sphere, 

 To warble it out in his Maker's ear." 



Nothing seems to affect the Lark's voice 

 as he soars on high. Most birds sing with 

 the exhaling breath only, but the Lark gives 

 voice both while exhaling and inhaling the 

 breath, which accounts for the continuous song 

 from the time he leaves the earth until his 

 drop on his return. The voice of the Lark 

 is very powerful, considering the size of the 

 bird, and the song is sprightly and not with- 

 out pathos. Wallace describes it as "simply 



