310 THE SKYLAEK. 



good singer may often be procured, is to take a Lark, whose wings 

 have been tied, and to which a forked limed twig is attached, 

 and let it go near the spot where the wished-for bird is heard. 

 As soon as the decoy is seen by the latter, he is inflamed with 

 jealousy, pounces down on his supposed rival, and is caught on 

 the limed twig. 



Attractive Qualities. The song of the Skylark is exceed- 

 ingly agreeable ; and consists of several passages, all of which 

 may be characterized as trills or shakes, on various notes of the 

 scale, and only occasionally interrupted by the repetition of a loud 

 whistle. It is a very docile bird ; and even when old, often 

 imitates the songs of birds which are hung in the same room 

 with itself. Differences of capability may indeed be noticed in 

 the Lark, as well as in other birds; the song of some is 

 stronger and sweeter than that of others, and is unintermitting 

 from December till the moulting season ; while others, again, 

 sing only between March and August. In a wild state, they 

 generally cease to sing about St. James' Day ; though there 

 are exceptions to this rule, for they may sometimes be heard as 

 late as Michaelmas. 



ADDITIONAL. This, as it is the most common, is also perhaps 

 the most universally admired of all our native songsters. With 

 us it is not a'migratory bird, and its cheerful strains may be fre- 

 quently heard quite late into the winter ; generally, however, in 

 severe weather, the Larks gather into flocks, and seeking the lower 

 and more sheltered grounds, are mute, or nearly so. They con- 

 gregate about the ricks in the fields and farm-yards, and help 

 themselves plentifully to the hoarded grain. They are very com- 

 monly in good concQtion, and well worth the attention of the 

 fowler. MUDIE gives an animated description of the Field Lark, 

 as he calls it, and dwells particularly upon its beautiful mode of 

 ascending and descending, and the agreement there is between 

 the song and the flight of the bird. 



ME. MAIN, in the Magazine of Natural History, observes, that 

 " no bird sings with more method : there is an overture per- 

 formed, vivace crescendo, while the singer ascends ; when at the 

 full height, the song becomes moderate, and distinctly divided 

 into short passages, each repeated three or four times over, like 

 Si fantasia, in the same key and tune. If there be any wind, he 

 rises perpendicularly by bounds, and afterwards poises himself 

 with breast opposed to it. If calm, he ascends in spiral circles ; 

 in horizontal circles during the principal part of his song, and 

 zigzagly downwards during the performance of foe finale. Some- 



