4 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.— CLASS II. AVES. 
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 down- 
wards during the performance of. the finale. Sometimes, after descending 
about half way, he ceases to sing, and drops with the velocity of an arrow 
to the ground. Those acquainted with the song of the Skylark can tell, 
without looking at them, whether the birds be ascending or stationary in the 
air, or on their descent, so different is the style of the song in each case. 
In the first, there is an expression of ardent impatience, in the second, an 
andante, and in the last, a graduated sinking of the strains, often touching 
the subdominant before the final close. The time and number of the notes 
often correspond with the vibrations of the wings ; and, though they sometimes 
sing while on the ground, as they seem to do in cages, their whole frame 
seems to be agitated by their musical efforts.” 
This is one of the earliest spring birds of song, and continues its warblings 
for the whole summer months, but becomes quite mute in winter, and is 
one of the few birds which chant on the wing. It sings with greatest en- 
ergy in the morning, and has been the theme of poets in all ages, and 
is, perhaps, more listened to during its aerial flights than almost any other 
bird. 
The Lark makes its nest on the ground, between two clods of earth, or 
scrapes a hollow cayity in the soil, and there deposits four dirty-white eggs, 
which are blotched and spotted with brown. It commences the business of 
incubation early in May, and if its first nests are destroyed, will lay so late 
as September. Mr. Jesse asserts that when the Lark is disturbed while in- 
cubating, it will remove its eggs from its nest to a place of greater security ; 
“and this transposition,” says he, “I have observed to be effected in a very 
short space of time. When one of my mowers first told me that he had 
observed the fact, 1 was somewhat disinclined to credit it; but I have since 
ascertained it beyond a doubt, and now mention it as another strong proof 
of that order in the economy of nature, by means of which this affectionate 
bird is enabled to secure its forthcoming offspring. I call it affectionate, 
because few birds show a stronger attachment to their young.” He adds, 
“Since this was written, I have had a further opportunity of observing the 
fact respecting the Larks removing their eggs; and a friend informed me 
that when he was recently in Scotland, a shepherd mentioned having wit- 
nessed the same circumstance.” 
This bird sits only fifteen days, and usually produces two broods in a year. 
As soon as the young have escaped from the shell, the attachment of the 
parent bird seems to increase; she flutters over their heads, directs all their 
motions, and is ever ready to screen them from danger. This instinctive 
