Al.AriUD.E — Till'] LAIiKS. l;{7 



AccordiiiLr to Messrs. I)ivsscr iiiul Slmrpo, tlio Skyliirk is loiiiul tlirmii^lKnit 

 the |inlar Antir ivuimis, Innii tlin I'.rili.sli Isliiml.s eastward to Siln'ria and 

 Xiiitliciii CliiiM. A smaller siil)s|)cci('s is met with in Smitliuastciu Ku- 

 u>\n', wliiili (jdcs not picsiMit any cliaracler iiy wliicli it can lie .sc|)aratt'd 

 iVum it. In Kasicrn Kuiiipi' tliu l,ark has lieoii i'ound as far north as tlii! 

 Faroe Islands, Inii has not lieen oliserved in Iceland. It reaches Christiania 

 in .March, iind leaves in Octolier. it has heen i'onnd lireediiiij in I-a|iland as 

 far iiortii as latitude ().*», and is a coininon sunnner visitant in Finland. 

 I'allas lound it ahmidant thr(iu<;liont iJussia and Siberia, and Stellcr I'onnd 

 it not only in Kaintschatka, Imt (Miually in the Kurile Islands and in those 

 hetween Asia and Ananica, so that its occurrence in our Alaskan territories 

 may he rej^arded as a not imjaolialile event. 



The same writers also state that the Skylark has lu'en twice recorded as 

 occurriiij.f in (Ireenhind and in America ; and in another i)lace they state that 

 "the Skylark occasionally visits (ireenhind, and has lieen met with in the 

 liermudas." In the latter place a storm-tried wail' was taken l>y Mr. J. M. 

 Jones after an easterly j^ale. 



The Lark is a universal favorite in the Old AVorld, and as a vocalist enjoys 

 a reputation hanlly .second even to the far-fana-d Ni,u;htinj;ale. It is an in- 

 haliitant of all the countritvs of Kurope, and is said to he most aliundant in 

 the cultivated districts. 



AVe only kiu)W of its son^' from cajj;ed specinuMis and from the testimony 

 of Kurojiean writers. Yarrell speaks of its notes as (iluicrful and exhilarat- 

 ing, fresh as the seas(»n of S])rin,!.i-, and the admiration of all hearers. Its 

 voice is descrihod as powerful to an extraordinary de,L;ree, and its song 

 wihl aiul joyous. They sinj,' while they ily, rising, with (luivering wings 

 almost perjiendicularly, until they gain so great an elevation that they can 

 no h)nger he distinguished; yet, while thus no longer visible, their wihl 

 music continues to he heard as that of some unseen si)irits of the air. It is 

 said that one familiar with their song can readily determine, hy their notes, 

 whether the singer is ascending, stationary, or descending. Occasionally, 

 when at this great elevation, the Lark will close its wings and drop to the 

 earth with the rai)idity of a stone. At times it will sing while on the 

 ground, hut its most lively strains are jioured forth during these flights. 

 And though this hird will sing while in confinement, and is a favorite cage- 

 bird, yet in singing they are said to flutter tluiir wings, as if this motion were 

 almost a necessary accompaniment to their song. 



In regard to the song and its peculiarities writers are not {[uite in agree- 

 ment. The general opinion seems to be that, while in the (luality of its 

 tone it is surpassed by the song of the Nightingale, the Uulhnch, and the 

 l)Iack-ca]>, it is une(iualled in quantity, sjjrightliness, variety, and j)ower. 

 The Lark is in song eight months of the year, and during the summer 

 months it sings from two in the morning, with very little intermission, until 

 after sunset. 



vol.. II. 18 



