THE SONG OF THE LARK 
187 
March 3. — I nearly trod upon a lark to-day : he soared aloft 
and sung harmonious music, but what is this bird language? 
He could not have been happy, because I had disturbed him. 
We do not understand bird nature any more than we do human 
nature. 
March 28. — Skylark singing in spite of wintry surroundings. 
April II. — Rained heavily towards evening, but skylark 
soaring and singing at 6.30 p.m. 
April 13. — Skylark singing, and all paired off now. 
April 30. — Skylark singing more these last few days. 
May II. — Skylark soaring and singing at 8 p.m. 
May 19. — Skylark singing more joyously than ever. He, too, 
blithe spirit, seems to realise the welcome news which has just 
reached us of the relief of Mafeking, and small wonder, for is not 
the lark a thorough Britisher ? 
May 20.— It has been another day of universal lark song. 
May-zj. — The first bird sounds which broke upon my ear this 
quiet Sabbath morning — mornings that give to this fair land of 
ours a beauty almost divine — were the cry of the cuckoo, the 
ever-welcome lay of the skylark, and the crow of some gay 
chanticleer a few gardens off. 
May 28. — Skylark soaring and singing at 8.45 p.m. 
May 31. — Skylark still singing. My notes with regard to 
this feathered musician are very frequent, for the reason that no 
matter when I am in or near my house I can hear half a dozen 
of these birds pouring out their joyful melodies. They are very 
plentiful indeed in this district, but, alas for the Nature-lover, 
the town is rapidly extending its area, and many an old green 
lane of our boyhood has been effaced beyond recognition. The 
expulsion of the larks as neighbours of mine is, I am afraid, near 
at hand. A year or two will probably see them driven away 
from their present haunts, for by that time bricks and mortar 
will have superseded the corn fields, the meadow lands and the 
other rural surroundings — but sufficient for the day is the evil 
thereof. 
June 2. — The skylark keeps my spirits up. (It will be 
remembered that June, 1900, was ushered in by cold, boisterous 
weather.) He is in incessant song from the time the first rays of 
the sun flash across the dew-spattered meadows until between 
8 and 9 p.m. 
June 12. — The skylark, as usual, was towering towards the 
clouds quite early this morning, singing as beautifully as ever he 
did. Is not the singing season of this bird a lengthy one ? We 
will perhaps analyse it later on. 
June 18. — Skylark singing: no stifling atmosphere, no cold 
east winds or driving rains damp the ardour of this bird. 
July 13. — The lark sings on. I am never at home without a 
lark can be heard singing right over my house. How few 
residents in the district take notice of the little jewel suspended 
in mid-heaven ; but I, for one, worship the sweet-voiced minstrel. 
