54 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



Dull, indeed, must be the ear, and emotionless the 

 temperament, that can listen to the " Lark at Heaven's 

 gate singing," without feeling astonished at the power and 

 compass of the melody, and delighted at its variety and 

 richness. 



This bird is a native of all the European countries, 

 with the exception of the extreme north ; it is also met 

 with in the north of Africa and some portions of Asia. 

 In this country it is well distributed ; and, indeed, in all 

 parts of Great Britain it is one of the best known of our 

 feathered friends. In winter these birds resort in large 

 numbers to the stubble fields and meadows (especially 

 where much clover is to be found), and they may frequently 

 be seen where ploughing operations are going on. Being 

 only partially migratory, large numbers remain throughout 

 the winter; they are of strong and hardy constitution, 

 and generally keep in tolerably good condition, except 

 when the ground is covered with snow. As an article of 

 food, the Skylark is much esteemed, and vast numbers are 

 destroyed during the colder months for the market, where 

 a ready sale is always procurable. The food consists of 

 various small seeds, grains, leaves of small plants, worms, 

 and insects ; a quantity of gravel or sand is also taken by 

 this bird. When not soaring, the Skylark spends almost all 

 its time on the ground, seldom perching, but running nimbly 

 amongst the grass in search of food, or dusting itself in 

 the soft earth; the last-mentioned habit being one to 

 which it is much addicted. 



The nest is built of dried bents of hay, grass, or fine 

 fibrous roots, and may be found in a slight indentation in 

 the ground ; generally, but not always, protected by clods 

 or thick tufts of grass or clover, and usually in some 



