SKYLARK. 



as well as the morning, and is continued during 

 eight months of the year. 



The time when the Lark is first in song, and the 

 general appearance and habits of the bird, endear 

 it to the countryman ; and even the boys in their 

 nesting excursions hold the humble couch of the 

 Lark in a sort of veneration. 



And it merits the esteem and protection which 

 it receives from the country people, not only on 

 account of the gentleness of its manners, and the 

 sweetness and enlivening character of its song, but 

 from the actual service which it renders to the 

 cultivator, in the destruction of both animals and 

 vegetables which are injurious to him. These are, 

 during the nesting-time, earth worms, earth larvae, 

 earth insects ; and also the winged ones, when they 

 alight on the roots of plants, for the purpose of 

 depositing their eggs. At other times they are of 

 vast service in picking up the seeds of plants which 

 are equally injurious to arable and to pasture 

 lands. 



The Skylark ascends almost perpendicularly 

 and by successive springs into the air, and hovers 

 there at such a vast height as often to be invisible, 

 though its notes are clearly heard, pouring forth 

 from its agitated throat, and filling the whole 

 surrounding air with cheerful melody. 



On an open stubble field, or rough fallow, one 

 has the best chance of hearing the matin song 

 of the year. The Lark is peculiarly the bird of 

 open cultivated districts, avoiding equally the open 



