THE SKY-LARK. 181 



All the various .members of this family are stoutly built, with large 

 tieads, beaks of short or moderate length, long and very broad wings, 

 short tails, and rather flat feet; the tail, which is by no means large, is 

 composed of twelve feathers, evenly cut off at their extremity. The 

 plumage is of a brownish shade, itearly alike in the two sexes, but 

 varying considerably as the birds increase iii age. The internal structure 

 of the body diifers in no essential particular from that of other Passeres, 

 The singing apparatus is well developed, and the lungs are large. 



HOBT TOED 1.ARK, 



THE SKY-LARK:, 



The Sky-lark forms its nest ^on ihe ground, generally between two 

 clods of earth, and lines it with dried grass and roots. The female lays 

 four or five eggs, which are hatched in about a fortnight; and she gen- 

 erally produces two broods MI the year. When hatclred, the mother 

 watches over them with a truly maternal affection ; she may then be seen 

 fluttering over their heads, directing their auctions, .anticipating tlK?ir 

 wants, and guarding them from danger.. 



The instinctive warmth of attachment which the female Sky-lark 

 bears towards her own species, often discovers itself at a very early 

 period, and. even before she is capable of becoming -a mother; which 

 might be supposed to precede, in the order of nature, the maternal 

 solicitude. "In the month of May (says M. de Buffon) a young hen- 

 bird was brought to me, which was not able to feed without assistance, 

 I caused her to be educated; and she was hardly fledged, when F 

 received from another place a nest of three or four unfledged Sky- 

 larks. She took a strong liking to these new comers, which were 

 scarcely younger than herself; she tended them night and day, 

 cherished them beneath her wings, and fed them with her bill. No- 

 'hing could interrupt her tender offices. If the young-ones were torn 

 from her she flew to them as soon as she was liberated, -and would 



