The LARKS (_Alaudæ_) differ widely in their habits from the rest of the
Passerine Order, inasmuch as they reside so exclusively upon the ground,
that we should feel very much surprised to see a Lark perching in a tree,
or disporting itself amongst the branches.
All the various members of this family are stoutly built, with large
heads, beaks of short or moderate length, long and very broad wings,
short tails, and rather flat feet, furnished with toes of middle size,
armed in some species with a spur-like nail: the tail, which is by no
means large, is composed of twelve feathers evenly cut off at their
extremity. The plumage is of a brownish shade, nearly alike in the
two sexes, but varying considerably as the birds increase in age. The
internal structure of the body differs in no essential particulars from
that of other Passeres. The skeleton is powerful; the bones for the most
part filled with air, and without marrow; the singing apparatus is well
developed; the lungs are large and the gizzard muscular; there is no
crop. These birds inhabit the open country, whether cultivated or not,
and are most numerously met with in temperate latitudes, some preferring
fields, whilst others are restricted to steppes or desert plains. Most
species must be considered as migratory, that is to say, such as are
found in the more northern countries seek for sunnier climes when winter
approaches, whilst those that inhabit the South may be regarded as
stationary; but in no case do these migratory excursions extend to any
great distance; and though the Larks are amongst our first visitors,
their stay with us is never protracted beyond the autumn. The behaviour
of all the members of this group is characterised by many peculiarities
that distinguish them from other Passeres. When upon the ground they
do not hop, but _step_ with surprising rapidity, and their flight is
remarkable for the variety of the evolutions by which it is accomplished.
Should the bird be eager to reach its destination it flies in large
undulating curves, produced by alternately opening and closing the wings;
but if, on the contrary, the little warbler is about to pour forth its
glorious song, it darts straight into the sky, like an arrow from a bow,
or else rises rapidly, but more leisurely, in a series of spiral circles
until it is quite out of sight. When about to descend, it hovers for a
short space in one spot, and then by a sudden plunge reaches the ground,
with body contracted and wings completely closed. At other times it may
be seen skimming close to the earth, or over the surface of a sheet of
water, occasionally varying these several kinds of exercise or amusement
by chasing its companions in buoyant and sportive flights through the
air. As regards their capabilities, the Larks have certainly been highly
favoured by Nature, but their intelligence is by no means equal to their
other endowments. Most of the members of this family are good singers,
some of them very highly gifted in that respect, and capable not only of
uttering a great variety of notes, but of imitating many of the sounds
they hear. All are of a cheerful and restless disposition, associating
but little with other birds, and exhibiting no fear of man or his snares,
except after experience of his tyranny. We have already said that Larks
are rarely found on trees, but pass their lives principally upon the
ground from which they procure the seeds and insects that constitute
their principal food. During the summer they consume large quantities
of small beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, spiders, and larvæ; these,
with seeds of various kinds, and young shoots from the budding corn,
constitute their daily fare; at other seasons different kinds of grain,
large and small, are eaten when still in the husk, thus necessitating
the swallowing of sand and little pebbles in order to assist the gizzard
in the labour of digestion. Water seems to be held in actual aversion
by these birds; they cleanse themselves, as do the domestic fowls, by
scratching about in the dust or sand; snow is also frequently used
during the winter for the same purpose. The Larks build their nests
upon the ground, or in small hollows scooped out for the reception of
the little structure, which is not remarkable for beauty; the principal
object in the choice of materials being to select such as are not easily
distinguishable from the ground upon which the nest stands; dry blades of
grass and leaves are generally employed for the purpose, and these are
woven together with but slight attention to comfort or compactness. The
brood consists of from four to six eggs, and as each pair breeds twice in
the course of the year, the increase of these birds is extremely rapid;
indeed, if this were not the case, their extermination would be speedily
accomplished, for their enemies are terribly numerous, those inhabiting
southern countries being particularly unfortunate in this respect,
as snakes and lizards are there added to the already large number
of destroyers, from whose teeth and claws so many of their northern
congeners are unable to escape. Man himself, however, is, after all, by
far the most redoubtable of their foes; for hundreds of thousands of
these little songsters are captured annually in order to add to the list
of delicacies supplied to his already over-stocked table.
* * * * *
The CALANDRA LARKS (_Melanocorypha_) are distinguished by their strong
beaks, vaulted both above and below, and slightly compressed at the
sides; by their long wings, short tails, and the cheerful coloration of
their plumage.