246 Birds. 
the gladdened creation the return of their best friend, 
the sun. The instinctive warmth of attachment which 
the female Skylark bears towards her own species, even 
when not her nestling, is remarkable. " In the month 
of May," says BufFon, " a young hen bird was brought 
to me, which was not able to feed without assistance. I 
caused her to be reared ; and she was hardly fledged, 
when I received from another place a nest of three or 
four unfledged larks. She took a strong liking to these 
newcomers, which were but little younger than herself; 
she tended them night and day, cherished them beneath 
her wings, and fed them with her bill. Nothing could 
interrupt her tender offices. If the young ones were torn 
from her she flew to them as soon as they were liberated, 
and would not think of effecting her own escape, which 
she might have done a hundred times. Her affection 
grew upon her ; she neglected food and drink ; she at 
length required the same support as her adopted offspring, 
and expired at last, consumed with maternal solicitude. 
None of the young ones long survived her. They died 
one after another; so essential were her cares, which 
were equally tender and judicious." 
The Lark mounts almost perpendicularly, and by suc- 
cessive springs, into the air, where it hovers at a vast 
height. Its descent is in an oblique direction, unless 
threatened by some ravenous bird of prey, or attracted 
by its mate, when it drops to the ground like a stone.. 
On its first leaving the earth, Ms notes are feeble and in- 
terrupted ; but, as it rises, they gradually swell to their 
full tone. As the Lark's flight is always at sun-rise, there 
is something in the scenery that renders its song pecu- 
liarly delightful : the opening morning, the landscape just 
gilded by the rays of the returning sun, and the beauty 
of the surrounding objects, all contribute to heighten 
our relish for its pleasing melody. 
" Up springs the Lark, 
Shrill-voiced and loud, the messenger of morn, 
Ere yet the shadows fly, he, mounted, sings 
Amid the dawning clouds, and from their haunts 
Calls up the tuneful nations." 
Thomsox. 
