£ 2 7 3 
s K Y-L ARK. 
Dejcriptlon and Character. 
T HU cock Sxy-Lark is as good a fong-bird 
as moft this land produces : he is vaftly 
Rout and lavilli in his long; but thought by 
Tome people too loud and harih. I muft own, 
though he has a great many fine notes, they 
are not fo melodious as the Wood-Lark’s, which 
in variety and foftnefs much excels him, and, 
to my fancy, all finall birds, without exception ; 
but that valuable bird is exceeding tender, very 
fubjeft to the cramp and other difeafes, fo that 
he can be kept but a fhort time in a cage ; two 
er three years we count a great while. I don’t 
deny but fometimes they reach beyond that 
date, yet the far greater number make their 
period a great deal fooner ; whereas the Sky- 
Lark is a long-lived, healthful bird, that will 
reach fifteen or twenty years : I have heard of 
feveral which have lived to that age, and fung 
ftoutly all that time ; therefore, coniidering the 
ftatelinefs and beauty of this bird, his great 
freenefs in finging his pleafant harmonious 
notes for at leaft eight months m the year, and 
the time he may be kept in a cage, with care, 
C 2 
