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NATURE NOTES 
July 15. — The lark was the sole chorister in Nature’s choir 
to-day. Cold and heat do not affect this bird, and that is why 
he is such a favourite of mine. There, in the broiling sun, the 
bird could be seen towering up towards the cloudless sky, singing 
sweet and delicious strains. 
July 29. — Skylark singing, but not so continuously as it has 
done. 
August I. — The lark has certainly been very silent this last 
few days, but a reference to our diary gives us the interesting 
information that this minstrel has been singing practically with- 
out cessation since February 17, and during some part of 
January. I heard it last on July 29. 
August 5. — Lark singing, but song by no means well sustained. 
September 9. — Have not heard lark singing since August 5. 
Robin the only bird in song. 
September 14. — Skylark heard uttering its full song as it was 
being chased by one or two others — surely uttered in anger or 
defiance — by no means strong or fully sustained. Only a minute 
before we had written in our note-book “ Skylark still silent ! ” 
September 16. — Heard two skylarks singing to-day, but the 
song was not well sustained, and the re-assumed song period has 
not yet, I think, arrived. Still, hearing the well-known notes 
again was very welcome and afforded much pleasure. 
September 23. — Quite a number of skylarks have resumed song 
again, and I am so pleased, because this is my favourite musician 
in the feathered world. 
October 3. — Skylarks singing daily, but they seem a tre- 
mendous height in the air. I am continually hearing them now, 
but can rarely see them. 
October 6. — How the lark cleaves the air, especially when 
looked at through a pair of good glasses. It always seems to 
soar and sing with its head to the wind. Is it not interesting to 
watch it soaring upward ? Taking the glass from the eye, the 
observer can scarcely see the bird again with the naked eye, as 
it towers higher and higher until finally lost in the blue sky. 
Then it suddenly commences the descent, falling slowly, slowly, 
slowly, singing all the while, until finally it drops like a stone to 
the earth in a slanting direction. It is a wonderfully captivating 
and interesting sight, and one not easily forgotten. 
October 14. — Owing to the blustering winds it was possible 
to hear hardly any birds, and the only one singing was the sky- 
lark. He was aloft with his head to the breeze, singing gaily 
that captivating song. 
October 30. — Skylark in full song. 
November 15. — The lark is not now in such continuous song. 
November 18. — Skylark singing casually. 
November 25. — Although such a spring-like morning and 
many hundreds of these birds were to be seen and heard twitter- 
ing, only a few were actually singing. 
