BRITISH BIRDS. 
176 
OF THE LARK. 
Amongst the various kinds of tinging birds 
with which this country abounds, there is none 
more eminently confpicuous than thofe of the Lark 
kind. Inftead of retiring to woods and deep re- 
cefles, or lurking in thickets, where it may be 
heard without being feen, the Lark is feen abroad 
in the fields ; it is the only bird which chaunts on 
the wing, and as it foars beyond the reach of our 
fight, pours forth the moft melodious ftrains, which 
may be diftindtly heard at that amazing difiance. 
— The great poet of nature thus beautifully de- 
fcribes it as the leader of the general chorus : 
— — — — — — — tc Up fprings the Lark, 
t( Shrill-voiced and loud, the meflenger of morn j 
* c *Ere yet the fliadows fly, he mounted flngs 
te Amid the dawning clouds, and from their haunts 
tl Calls up the tuneful nations.” 
From the peculiar confiru&ion of the hind claws, 
which are very long and ftraight, Larks generally 
reft upon the ground ; thofe which frequent trees 
perch only on the larger branches : They all build 
their nefts upon the ground, which expofes them 
to the depredations of the fmaller voracious kinds 
of animals, fuch as the Weazel, Stoat, &c. which 
deftroy great numbers of them. The Cuckoo 
likewife, which makes no neft of its own, frequent- 
ly fubftitutes its eggs in the place of their$.~-The 
