THE SKYLARK. 115 



of the feet, give it a great facility in running along a 

 rough surface. The legs are long and strong, and the 

 toes are detached from each other throughout their 

 whole length ; the outer and middle ones not being 

 united as far as the first joint, as is the case with the 

 pipits, thus the lark can walk among much ranker 

 herbage. The dignity and firmness of its slow march, 

 and the velocity of its running, in situations where it is 

 like a man running among reeds or short osiers, and 

 the ease with which it takes the wing from a surface 

 apparently so ill adapted for mounting, are all worthy 

 of observation. When in confinement, the lark does 

 not feel at home if placed on a hard or smooth surface, 

 and it cannot perch, so that it will not sing till its cage 

 be carpetted with a bit of turf. The lark is digitigrade, 

 or walks on the toes, and the grass, which has the 

 effect of a snare to some birds, is to it a continual suc- 

 cession of elastic cushions. When we look at the 

 long and straight claws with which the toes, more es- 

 pecially the hind toes, of the lark are armed, and con- 

 sider them with reference to walking, with the freedom 

 of which we are always apt to associate a smooth sur- 

 face, we are apt to think that the bird is but awkwardly 

 adapted for locomotion ; but when we examine the 

 action of the bird (and it is one that allows a near ap- 

 proach) we find that no organization could be better : 

 the three front toes and claws are spread wide, and the 

 posterior one projects far in the rear, so that the ex- 

 tent of the foot ranges over a number of blades of grass, 

 and the bird can run upon that without ever touching 

 the soil ; and, as the weight is thrown alternately upon 

 each foot, the elasticity of the grass aids, not only in 

 the lifting of the other foot, but in the progressive 



