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SKYLARK. 
The Skylark, Alauda arvensis, Linn — 
Alauda arvensis, Linn. — Common Field or Sky- 
lark of British authors. — This well known bird 
and favourite songster is plentifully distributed 
over the whole of our islands, though in the more 
northern isles it is said to be only a summer 
visitant. In a country where the plough was 
little known, and the cultivation of the grains 
had not commenced, we would consider the 
natural localities of the Skylark to be extensive 
ranges of grass or pasture land, not lying too 
low, yet scarcely reaching to what might be 
generally termed a sub-alpine country. In the 
present state of our lands, it is a close attendant 
on cultivation, finding shelter or food among our 
crops, and enlivening the labours of the husband- 
man by its cheerful and peculiar song. Grazing 
lands, however, are still its favourite range, and 
it is often found in considerable abundance where 
the upland sheep pastures begin to commence. 
In these localities, and among the hay crops, it 
builds or forms its nest, and rears its young. 
The male, during the time of incubation, singing 
from clod or tuft, a little elevated, or rising above 
the spot with a rapid motion of the wings, and 
during ascent pouring forth that melody which 
has been so often the theme of our more homely 
poets, and is a marked illustration with all who 
describe the accessaries to rural scenery. The 
song is continued for a considerable time without 
interruption, during the ascent and after having 
