Cassell's book of birds; vol. 1Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Science
Cassell's book of birds; vol. 1
Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Birds
The Skylark abounds over the whole continent of Europe and its contiguous
islands; in Asia it is met with as far north as Kamschatka, and we think
that it may now be numbered amongst North American birds, Audubon having
introduced many species into that country, in the hope of their becoming
naturalised. Though somewhat rarely seen, Field Larks have been known to
reach Egypt in the course of their migrations. We ourselves have seen
large flocks inhabiting the Castilian highlands, and they are said to
be plentiful in Algiers and Greece during the colder parts of the year.
In England the Lark is always regarded as the harbinger of spring, as
with us it has usually returned and selected its home by the end of
April. In its behaviour this species closely resembles its congeners,
but, unlike some of them, it is extremely restless, running or flying
from one spot to another with a constant change of flight or step, at
one moment walking slowly, repeatedly ducking its head as it goes, and
the next instant darting along with the rapidity of a plover. When in
the air its evolutions are most varied. While singing it usually hovers
gently, or rises rapidly with regular strokes of its wings, as it carols
forth its well-known lay, which may be frequently heard at intervals
from early morning until after sunset, the little songster appearing
quite regardless of all other pleasures or desires, as it rises higher
and higher towards the clouds, which sometimes seem to hide it from our
view. The night is passed upon the ground, but at the first dawn of day,
this "herald of the morn," as it has been aptly called, is amongst the
first to greet the rising sun, its matin song being uttered whilst still
perched upon the spot that has afforded it a shelter for the night.
Like the bird we last described, the Skylark lives at peace with its
brotherhood until the time for choosing a mate, at which season regular
pitched battles are of constant occurrence between the males, who pull
and tear each other in the air until the whole party fall struggling
to the ground, usually, however, without any serious injury, and quite
ready to renew the combat at the first sound of their antagonist's voice;
the females, meanwhile, not only seem to enjoy the scene, but sometimes
assist the mate they would prefer.
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