200 CLASS AVES. 



caution is to place fine sand within their reach, in which the 

 larks are fond of rolling, to rid themselves of the little insects 

 which incommode them. They soon become so familiar as to 

 eat out of the hand, on the table, &c. 



The lark usually lives nine or ten years in a state of cap- 

 tivity, and sometimes longer. Instances have been known of 

 their having attained even to four-and-twenty years. Albertus 

 Magnus was of opinion, that towards its ninth year the lark 

 lost its sight. Like all other birds in a state of captivity, it 

 is subject to epilepsy ; from which circumstance the ancient 

 physicians imagined that its flesh was injurious to those 

 persons who were attacked by this terrible malady. They 

 regarded it, however, as a specific against gravel, stone, and 

 colic. In our times, on the contrary, it has been said to 

 produce the latter complaint ; and probably there is as much 

 truth in one statement as in the other. 



The lark, however, is generally considered as an wholesome, 

 delicate, and light food. It is prepared in a variety of 

 ways, on which, as we are not writing a book of cookery, we 

 shall forbear to dwell. We must therefore return to our 

 proper province, which is nature. 



The extreme elongation of the hinder claw of the lark in a 

 right line, gives the bird a facility in walking, but renders it 

 incapable of seizing the branches of trees, and perching. Its 

 walk and attitude are neat and graceful. It sometimes forms 

 a little tuft by elevating the feathers of its head. 



The larks are dispersed through the fields during the 

 whole of the fine season, but assemble in large flocks in 

 autumn and winter. They then become very fat ; for the 

 period of their amours, their song, and their breeding, being 

 gone by, they keep continually on the ground, and have no 

 other occupation than that of taking nutriment. 



These numerous assemblages are only preparatory to an 



