THE SKYLARK. 



Alauda arvensis, Linn. 



The length of this bird is about seven inches. 

 The feathers on the head are rather long, and 

 erectable in the form of a crest. The hind claw 

 is very long and straight — a characteristic in these 

 birds which enables them to run on the surface of 

 thick-matted grass, or rise from it, or alight on 

 it, with much less inconvenience than almost any 

 other birds. 



Who does not know this joyous songster of the 

 free air ? It is distributed over the greater part 

 of the kingdom, and is universally a favourite. It 

 does not frequent the bleak wastes ; but wherever 

 man cultivates the soil, from Devon to the Shetland 

 Isles, the Lark is there " to beguile his labour with 

 a cheerful song." 



The song of the Skylark is heard early in the 

 spring : it is poured forth while the bird is on 

 the wing, and never fails to warm the heart of the 

 listener, when carolling, far, far in the blue air 

 above, his hymn of joy and gratitude at the return 

 of the vernal season. 



He not only ushers in the spring, but with the 

 first dawn of day he is up, and appears " the herald 

 of the morn." His song is heard in the evening 



