70 TREATISE ON 



sprightliness, we think lie is right, — ^he says seven- 

 teen ; and its song, in our opinion, surpasses all 

 other warblers in cheerfulness. Whether this pro- 

 ceeds from the effect of its sprightly carol on the 

 nerves, by touching those which raise the spirits, 

 or from association of ideas, as bringing more im- 

 mediately before us bright sunshine, rural scenes, 

 green fields, gay landscapes, and natui*e in gene- 

 ral, we cannot say. Perhaps the delight we expe- 

 rience, on hearing this cheerful warbler, may arise 

 from both causes ; but, to all who admu-e thet 

 wild warbling music of the groves and fields, and, 

 more particularly, to the contemplative admirer of 

 nature, the carol of the skylark does convey de- 

 light. The pleasure afforded to the mind by the 

 melody of birds is pui*e and innocent. Does it 

 not add greatly to the charms of a morning walk 

 in the fields, to see the lark spring from his 

 grassy couch, mount in air, and to hear him carol 1 

 while he mounts, till he appears as a mere speck ; 

 on the bosom of a white cloud, his thrilling notes ; 

 still pouring over us, but from a height too vast 

 for human eye to scan the airy minstrel. 



The lark begins his hymn to the morning often 

 before the sun is above the horizon. This is fine- 

 ly described by Burns : — 



