SKYLARK. 



or five. The bird, and indeed the eggs, resemble 

 in colour the clods among which they are placed ; 

 and as the sitting-time for the second brood, which 

 is in July, and even for the first, which is in May, 

 happens when the herbage is long, the nest is not 

 discovered by the rising of the old bird, as the 

 grass is very little agitated. The head of the bird 

 when sitting on the nest is always, it is said, turn- 

 ed to the weather : the feathers of the breast and 

 throat completely prevent the rain from enter- 

 ing the nest at that side, while the wings and tail 

 act as penthouses on the other.* 



The ill-fated Shelley has some exquisite lines 

 to a Skylark : — 



Hail to thee, blithe spirit ! — 



Bird thou never wert, — 

 That from Heav'n, or near it, 



Pourest thy full heart 

 In profuse strains of unpremeditated art. 



Higher still and higher 

 From the cloud thou springest : 



Like a cloud of fire 

 The deep-blue thou wingest, 

 And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest. 



The common German paste is the food of Sky- 

 larks when in a cage. Poppy-seed, bruised hemp- 

 seed, crumb of bread, and plenty of greens, as 

 lettuce, endive, cabbage, or watercress, according 

 to the season, must be added. A little lean meat 

 and ants' eggs are favourite delicacies, which make 

 it gay and more inclined to sing. These birds are 

 fond of dusting. 



British Naturalist. 



