NATURE NOTES 
1 86 
The song itself is of so beautiful a description that any 
attempt to write it down must surely fail. As the bird proceeds 
in its aerial flights, it seems to increase in volume, sweetness and 
cadence. Right unto its final outburst, just previous to the 
lightning fall to mother earth, the bird appears to gather music 
as it goes. Albeit the song seems little varied, yet it can never 
become monotonous. Its sweet chromatic lays and trills— call 
them what you will — uttered as they are during such prolonged 
and interesting song-flights, always hold me entranced, and no 
sooner have I finished watching one particular bird alight safely 
on the ground than I find myself eagerly scanning another bird 
just ascending, and I have often been entertained for a whole 
morning in lark-land alone. 
My natural history diary for 1900 has been most religiously 
kept, and I will quote a few extracts therefrom respecting the 
bird now under consideration. 
January 24.— Miserable Scotch-misty morning, but the sky- 
lark singing in spite of the unpropitious elements. This is the 
first time I have heard a lark singing for some weeks. I saw 
two or three chasing each other over the fallows. The sound 
uttered as they do this is very musical and clear-ringing. 
January 26. — The skylark was soaring and singing deliciously 
this morning, and the rooks were up afore times. 
February 3. — The larks do not seem to relish this return of 
winter, and are quite silent again. 
February 17. — Snow nearly all gone. It is quite nice to see 
the green meadows of old England once more. I watched with 
much pleasure a skylark soaring this morning, and pealing out 
those beautiful bells we all know and love so well. He was 
soaring in a circular direction, and I verily believe he was 
endeavouring to attract a female as a partner for the nesting 
season of 1900. 
There is, to my mind, much more in this bird language than 
we can understand, and the deeper we investigate the more 
mysterious and wonderful it becomes. With the surroundings 
so damp and dismal, I could not help admiring this courageous 
lark pouring out such bubbling music, and the sight and sound 
did my heart good, and spurred me on for brighter days. 
February 19. — Very wet to-day, but skylark singing joyously, 
I have noticed many times that this bird soars and sings in wet 
weather, and will sometimes leave off temporarily on bright, 
sunny days. His song is not always poured forth, as some 
writers assert, on bright days, and his voice does not always 
“ fall down through the golden sunshine like a flood of sparkling 
melody.” 
February 25. — Skylarks singing everywhere. 
February 26. — Raining, but skylark singing. Why does this 
bird sing in such dismal weather ? 
February 27. — Raining in torrents, but does not damp the 
ardour of the lark. It must be that this continual singing is for 
a partner. 
