THE SKYLARK. 93 



ness, and at such times, if disturbed, the skylark utters a few 

 hurried notes whilst flying off. Its song, whilst on the ascent 

 and descent, is so varied, that many persons can easily detect 

 the difference without observing the bird, the notes in the 

 ascent being of a gushing impatience, hurried out, as it were, 

 from an excessive overflow of melody, which, becoming gra- 

 dually modulated when at an elevation, as if satisfied with 

 its efforts, it sinks gradually towards the earth, with a sadder 

 and more subdued strain. None of the poets have been at- 

 tentive enough to observe this except the great Florentine, 

 who, in his Divina Comedia, 



" Like to the lark, 



That, warbling in the air, expatiates long ; 

 Then, thrilling out her last sweet melody, 

 Drops, satiate with the sweetness." 



If the term bird-worship be allowable, we know no people 

 of any country in the world to which it is more applicable 

 than our own, nor any bird more worthy of that eminence 

 than the skylark. 



Mentioned in a recent work on Natural History as being 

 so valuable for its song as to bring the extravagant price 

 of twelve or fifteen shillings in London, if the author had 

 the opportunity of pricing some of the birds exposed at the 

 windows of the working shoemakers in this city, he would find 

 that in Dublin they would average from one to three pounds, 

 and the majority could not be purchased for " love or money." 

 Such has been the answer of many who would starve them- 

 selves, if necessary, to feed their worshipped bird. Such was 

 the answer of Huggart, a poor chandler in Belfast, who refused 

 the offer of a cow for his favourite skylark.* 



We know that the emigrant, who, having reared some fa- 

 vourite lark, takes it with him to another land, with a sod of 

 Irish earth placed beneath it, that one day a portion of clay 

 from the old land may cover him. 



Indigenous. 



* Thompson. 



