LARK. 
3 
S1 ‘7 d °™ “ 7 “ 7 k hC plUCked his bM "’«» ‘he greatest satisfaction, remarking when^is 
work was completed, that it would “ make a good supper for the missus and me •' 
Some flve-and-twenty years ago the fields in the neighbourhood of Brighton were resorted to durin- 
the autumn flight by quantities of gunners who indulged in the sport of shooting these birds while ™ 
pass ge For this amusement the well-known Bark-glass was made use of, the reflection of the sun n 
the twirling glass being supposed to prove the attraction*; anyhow, the infatuated birds when once in 
view made hastily towards the lure, skimming round on extended wings and offering a succession of 
the easiest shots. Though the numbers of shooters have greatly increased, this old-fashioned custom has 
gradually fallen into disrepute ; I do not remember to have seen more than one or two Lark-glasses in 
operation during the last half-dozen years. Meadow-Pipits are also attracted by these means if the flights 
as is usually the case, happen to be passing over at the time. In October 1S75, having placed a glass Tome’ 
hundred yaids or so from the back of our house near Brighton, in order to watch the actions of the Larks when 
undisturbed, I shot an immature Black Redstart that darted down. Whether it was attracted by the 
glass or was on the point of settling m the garden close at hand (a favourite resort in those days for that 
species), I had no means of ascertaining, the bird having been killed the moment it was identified. 
, Jme 187 °’ “ y atteatio11 ha ™g been attracted by a couple of Larks hovering in the greatest 
state of excitement over a rough bank near one of the Norfolk broads, I ascertained, after a few minutes' 
watching, that a stoat carrying one of their newly fledged brood in its mouth was the cause of the 
disturbance. Thinking that the group would afford a good chance for the taxidermist to exercise his 
s all, I procured the whole party with one shot, and much regret that the plates in “ Rough Notes ” 
are too small to depict the scene. Some of the lesser Falcons as well as Hawks also prey upon this 
species, and to rats they not unfrequently fall victims. A few winters ago I discovered that one or 
two of these destructive brutes had taken up their quarters in the vicinity of my boatsheds in the east 
of Norfolk. They commenced operations by devouring holes in the men’s oily coats, and next turned 
their attention to the decaying carcasses of some Grey and Carrion Crows hanging on a vermin-pole. A 
dog that accompanied me soon pointed out their whereabouts, below the hatches of one of the gunning- 
punts lying on the bank. From this shelter they were soon forced and destroyed, and the contents of 
their domicile being overhauled, it was ascertained that they had carried there a Lark and a Starling, both 
perfectly fresh ; these they must have captured themselves on the marshes, as none had been shot in the 
neighbourhood. There were also parts of the Crows transported by some means from the pole on which 
they had been suspended, and a bottle containing a few drops of Rangoon oil. The latter had been 
flung out the previous day on the bank to the distance of about twenty or thirty yards; and it would doubtless 
have been amusing to have observed the manner in which the rats conveyed it to their nest. 
The tints on the plumage of young Larks in their first summer are much lighter in colouring than 
in mature birds, the whole of the feathers on the hack being edged with a pale straw and the general 
tone more subdued. None but those acquainted with the species during all its changes would imagine 
the relationship between an old and young Lark shot in August. 
I 1 or my own part 1 always imagined the Larks took it for a Kestrel hovering close to the ground, which it certainly much resembles. 
