THE LARK IN AUtUMN. 



together; for the immigrants, mindful of 

 their Baltic homes, go off again in early 

 spring, leaving the smaller British birds to 

 mate and nest and keep up the true blue 

 blood of the Britannic skylark. While hard 

 weather lasts, the families flock together in 

 large mixed bodies, for mutual protection, I 

 suppose, or else for love of companionship ; 

 but at the beginning of March they separate 

 and pair, and during this tremulous season 

 of love and courtship their song falls from 

 the clouds still blither and louder and more 

 constant than ever. It showers down upon 

 us with lavish profusion. The male birds 

 rise emulously, singing as they go, and dis- 

 playing with pride their powers of song and 

 flight before their mates and their rivals. 

 Often they join battle at their giddy height 

 for some coveted mate, and fight it out in 

 the sky ; she sits demure below on the dewy 

 grass meanwhile, watching their deeds of 

 prowess, listening to their bursting hearts, 

 and ready to bestow herself, like ladies at a 



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