THE SKYLARK. 107 



resemblance is entirely counterbalanced by the possession of a musical apparatus, for the owner- 

 ship of which, as every one knows, the Larks are so famous. They form, however, a natural con- 

 clusion to the section of singing Passeres, leading on to the Ant-Thrushes, and the ground-loving, 

 songless birds of the New World. In the formation of the wing the Larks show cei'tain affinities to 

 the Wagtails and Pipits that is to say, they have the inner secondaries elongated, so as to be about 

 equal to the primaries in length and they greatly resemble the latter birds in their habits. About 

 one hundred species of Larks are known, and with the exception of the Horned Larks, which are 

 found in America, the vast bulk of the species are inhabitants of the Old World, a great number of 

 them being found in Africa. The hind claw in the Larks, as was also the case in the Pipits, is of 

 varied form, being generally long and straight, as in the case of the Skylarks, but in some of them 

 it is short and rounded. 



The common Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is an inhabitant of Europe, extending far eastward to 

 the Himalayas, and even to China, but as the bird proceeds to the eastward, certain modifications in 

 the colour of its plumage are noticed, which are considered sufficient by many naturalists to warrant 

 a belief in several species of Skylark. 



" There is perhaps none of our native birds," says Macgillivray, " that has attracted so much 

 attention as the Skylark, nor any that has been so much celebrated by poets and sentimental writers. 

 It might be a pleasant task to cull from our choicest authors the flowers of poesy which derive their 

 beauty from the gentle influence of this sweet songster of the fields ; but I must leave it for those who 

 love to study Nature from books, as I find it more profitable to listen to the cheering notes of the Lark 

 herself, to gaze upon her as she floats flutteringly high up in the blue sky, to watch her descent, and run 

 up to inspect her nest among the green grass, while her beloved young ones are rejoicing at her arrival. 

 Towards the end of autumn the Skylarks congregate in large straggling flocks, generally keeping 

 by themselves, although occasionally mingling with small birds of the Passerine and Bunting 

 families. In open weather they frequent the stubble and ploughed fields, where they pick up the 

 seeds of oats, wheat, barley, polygonuni, and other plants. Like the Deglubitores, and many of the 

 Cantatores, they use a large quantity of sand and gravel, consisting chiefly of grains of quartz, to 

 aid the process of digestion. I believe their food during the winter consists almost entirely of seeds, 

 although remains of insects may now and then be found in their gizzards. At this season they 

 employ only their ordinary flight, which bears some resemblance to that of the Fieldfare, being 

 performed by slight undulations, and several consecutive flaps of the wings, with short alternate 

 cessations. They generally hover over a field, or fly about in curves, before they alight, which 

 they do in rather an abrupt manner, but not so rapidly as the Corn and Yellow Buntings. On 

 alighting they disperse, and move about, not by leaps, like most small birds, but by an alternate action 

 of the feet, in a half-gliding, half-startful manner, keeping their legs bent and their breasts con- 

 sequently close to the ground. When in any degree alarmed, they crouch, draw in their neck, 

 and remain motionless until the object of their apprehension has disappeared. Should a person 

 walk up to a flock, he may get quite close to it before the birds think it necessary to rise; and 

 on such occasions they do not all take flight at once, a few here and there rising in succession. 

 Indeed, unless the ground be all gone over, many will remain and allow their companions to fly 

 off. Their movements while rising are rapid and wavering, so that until they are at some distance it 

 is difficult to shoot them. Owing to their habit of crouching, it is by no means easy to perceive them 

 while on the ground, especially if they are among stubble ; and as their motions are quick, they 

 traverse a considerable distance in a short time. When there is snow on the ground, they betake 

 themselves to corn-yards, and search the tops of the stacks for seeds ; but in frosty weather, when 

 the ground is clear, they prefer settling on the spaces between or around the stacks. If disturbed 

 and forced to fly off, they do not, like the Buntings, Chaffinches, and Sparrows, with which they then 

 associate, perch on the neighbouring trees or walls, but remove to a distance. During this season, 

 they merely utter a short chirping note as they fly, although occasionally a bright day, even so eai-ly as 

 January, will elicit their song. 



"In the beginning of March, or earlier if the weather is fine, they separate and pair. At this 

 period the males often fight, chiefly in the air; and now their song commences, to be continued until 

 the middle of the autumn. I have heard Larks in full song on the 13th of Februarv in Fifeshire. 



