THE WOODLARK. ] 23 



though the precise time varies with the latitude and 

 the season. When the male ceases his song, it is not 

 that he may devote to the fattening of himself the 

 time that he spent in wooing his mate withal, and 

 cheering her while sitting. He does it in order that 

 he may unite his labours to hers in finding food for 

 the progeny, which they require in great quantity, and 

 of the same kind as the brood of the skylark. The 

 brood are of the same number, and not unlike, only 

 the mandibles are not so yellow at the edge. The 

 eggs, too, are pale brown, and the blotches grey and 

 brown. The eggs are sometimes laid as early as April ; 

 the incubation and nursing occupy about a fortnight 

 each ; and when the first brood are able to shift for 

 themselves, a second is immediately set about. The 

 times of both are, however, a little irregular ; and it is 

 doubtful whether the male is always in song during 

 the second incubation, unless when he loses his mate. 



We know not the effects which those songs of the 

 birds, which make the country so delightful, have upon 

 the songsters themselves. The pairing of all animals 

 that have voice, and of some that produce sound by the 

 mechanical action of external parts of the body, with- 

 out any connexion with the breathing, which is always 

 the vehicle of voice properly so called, is attended 

 with a peculiar modulation of sound, generally softer 

 and often more modulated than the cries that are 

 expressive of their other passions ; but in what way the 

 song, or the chirp, or the tick, affects the party to 

 which it is addressed, we want much and careful ob- 

 servation before we can find out. Naturalists have 

 been so much disposed to refer to man, who has, or 



