BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 69 



Now April starts, and calls around 



The sleeping fragrance from the ground : 



Forgetful of their wintry trance^ 

 The birds his presence greet. 

 But, chief, the Skylark warbles high 

 His trembling thrilling ecstasy ; 

 And, lessening from the dazzled sight, 

 Melts into air and liquid light. 



Gray, 



SKYLARK. 



LAVROCK. 



ALAUDA ARVENSIS ; LINN^US.— l'ALOUETTE ; 

 BUFFON. 



The Skylark is generally admired, and esteem- 

 ed an excellent song-bird, though its notes are 

 neither mellow nor plaintive. In this we differ 

 from the Honourable Daines Barrington, who 

 says, in his scale of the merits of singing birds 

 that the skjdark's note has four of both ; but, in 



I. 



