448 ALAUDIDA. 
countries of Kurope, but prefers cultivated districts, parti- 
cularly uninclosed arable land. Here in early spring its 
cheerful and exhilarating song, fresh as the season, is the 
adiniration of all. The bird rises on quivering wing, al- 
most perpendicularly, singing as he flies, and gaining an 
elevation that is quite extraordinary, yet so powerful is his 
voice, that his wild, joyous notes, may be heard distinctly 
when the pained eye can trace his course no longer. An 
ear well tuned to his song can even then determine by 
the notes whether the bird is still ascending, remaining 
stationary, or on the descent. When at a considerable 
height, should a Hawk appear in sight, or the well-known 
voice of his mate reach his ear, the wings are closed, and 
he drops to the earth with the rapidity of a stone. Oc- 
casionally the Sky Lark sings when on the ground; but 
his most lively strains are poured forth during flight ; 
and even in confinement, this would-be tenant of the free 
air tramples his turf and flutters his wings while singing, 
as if muscular motion was with him a necessary accom- 
paniment to his music. 
The male Sky Lark is one of our most common cage- 
birds, from the facility with which he is preserved in 
health under confinement, and the general sprightliness of 
his song; yet the notes of the Lark are more remarkable 
for variety and power than for quality of tone; what is 
wanted in quality is, however, made up by quantity ; his 
strains are heard during eight months of the year; and in 
summer, Mr. Jenyns observes, he begins to sing soon after 
two o'clock in the morning, and continues with little in- 
termission till after sunset. 
An instance has lately come to my knowledge of a Sky 
Lark that lived nineteen years and a half in a cage. 
The food of the Sky Lark is grain, seeds of grasses, 
