4 Traits of Larks. 



the arable fields, alight there, and presently return. 

 In the early spring, wh^n love-making is in full 

 progress, the cornfields where the 3'oung green blades 

 are just showing, become the scene of the most 

 amusing rivahy. Far as the eye can see across the 

 ground it seems alive with larks — chasing each 

 other to and fro, round and round, with excited 

 calls, flying close to the surface, continually alight- 

 ing, and springing up again. A gleam of sunshine 

 and a warm south wind brings forth these merry 

 antics. So like in general hue is the lark to the 

 lumps of brown earth that even at a few paces it is 

 difficult to distinguish her. Some seem alwa3's to 

 remain in the meadows ; but the majority frequent 

 the arable land, and especially the cornfields on the 

 slopes of the downs, where they may be found in 

 such numbers as rival or perhaps exceed those of 

 any other bird. 



At first sight starlings seem more numerous ; but 

 this arises from their habit of gathering together in 

 such vast flocks, blackening the earth where they 

 alight. But 3'ou may walk a whole day across the 

 downs and still find larks ever^^where ; so that though 

 scattered abroad the}" probablj' equal or exceed the 

 starlings, who show so much more. Thej are by no 

 means timid, being but little disturbed here : you can 

 get near enough to watch every motion, and if they 

 rise it is only to sing. They never seem to know 

 precisely where they are going to alight — as if, in- 

 deed, they were nervously' particular and must find a 

 clod that pleases them, picking and choosing with 

 the greatest nicet3\ 



Many other birds exhibit a similar trait : instead 



