196 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



fields, whilst others are restricted to steppes or desert plains. Most species must be considered as 

 migrator)-, that is to say, such as are found in the more northern countries seek for sunnier climes 

 when winter approaches, whilst those that inhabit the South may be regarded as stationary ; but in no 

 case do these migratory excursions extend to any great distance ; and though the Larks are amongst 

 our first visitors, their stay with us is never protracted beyond the autumn. The behaviour of all the 

 members of this group is characterised by many peculiarities that distinguish them from other Passeres. 

 When upon the ground they do not hop, but step with surprising rapidity, and their flight is remark- 

 able for the variety of the evolutions by which it is accomplished. Should the bird be eager to reach 

 its destination it flies in large undulating curves, produced by alternately opening and closing the 

 wings ; but if, on the contrary, the little warbler is about to pour forth its glorious song, it darts straight 

 into the sky, like an arrow from a bow, or else rises rapidly, but more leisurely, in a series of spiral 

 circles until it is quite out of sight. When about to descend, it hovers for a short space in 

 one spot, and then by a sudden plunge reaches the ground, with body contracted and wings com- 

 pletely closed. At other times it may be seen skimming close to the earth, or over the surface 

 of a sheet of water, occasionally varying these several kinds of exercise or amusement by chasing its 

 companions in buoyant and sportive flights through the air. As regards their capabilities, the 

 Larks have certainly been highly favoured by Nature, but their intelligence is by no means equal to 

 their other endowments. Most of the members of this family are good singers, some of them very 

 highly gifted in that respect, and capable not only of uttering a great variety of notes, but of imitating 

 many of the sounds they hear. All are of a cheerful and restless disposition, associating but little with 

 other birds, and exhibiting no fear of man or his snares, except after experience of his tyranny. We 

 have already said that Larks are rarely found on trees, but pass their lives principally upon the 

 ground from which they procure the seeds and insects that constitute their principal food. During 

 the summer they consume large quantities of small beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, spiders, and 

 larvae ; these, with seeds of various kinds, and young shoots from the budding corn, constitute their 

 daily fare ; at other seasons different kinds of grain, large and small, are eaten when still in the husk, 

 thus necessitating the swallowing of sand and little pebbles in order to assist the gizzard in the labour 

 of digestion. Water seems to be held in actual aversion by these birds ; they cleanse themselves, as 

 do the domestic fowls, by scratching about in the dust or sand ; snow is also frequently used during 

 the winter for the same purpose. The Larks build their nests upon the ground, or in small hollows 

 scooped out for the reception of the little structure, which is not remarkable for beauty ; the principal 

 object in the choice of materials being to select such as are not easily distinguishable from the ground 

 upon which the nest stands; dry blades of grass and leaves are generally employed for the purpose, 

 and these are woven together with but slight attention to comfort or compactness. The brood 

 consists of from four to six eggs, and as each pair breeds twice in the course of the year, the increase 

 of these birds is extremely rapid ; indeed, if this were not the case, their extermination would be 

 speedily accomplished, for their enemies are terribly numerous, those inhabiting southern countries 

 being particularly unfortunate in this respect, as snakes and lizards are there added to the already 

 large number of destroyers, from whose teeth and claws so many of their northern congeners are 

 unable to escape. Man himself, however, is, after all, by far the most redoubtable of their foes ; 

 for hundreds of thousands of these little songsters are captured annually in order to add to the list 

 of delicacies supplied to his already over-stocked table. 



The CALANDRA LARKS {Melanocorypha) are distinguished by their strong beaks, vaulted 

 both above and below, and slightly compressed at the sides ; by their long wings, short tails, and the 

 cheerful coloration of their plumage. 



