or LARK, in ornithology, a genus of birds of the order of passerine; the characters of which are these: The beak is cylindrical, subulated, straight; and the two mandibles or chaps are of equal size. The tongue is bifid, and the hinder claw is straight, and longer than the toe. There are 28 species of the alauda, of which the following are the most remarkable.

1. The arvensis, or common sky-lark. This and the wood-lark are the only birds that sing as they fly; this raising its note as it soars, and lowering it till it quite dies away as it descends. It will often soar to such a height, that we are charmed with the music when we lose sight of the longfitter; it also begins its song before the earliest dawn. Milton, in his Allegro, most beautifully expresses these circumstances; and bishop Newton observes, that the beautiful scene that Milton exhibits of rural cheerfulness, at the same time gives us a fine picture of the regularity of his life, and the innocency of his own mind; thus he describes himself as in a situation

To hear the lark begin his flight, And singing startle the dull night,

From his watch-tow'r in the skies, Till the dappled dawn doth rise.

It continues its harmony several months, beginning early in the spring, on pairing. In the winter they assemble in vast flocks, grow very fat, and are taken in great numbers for our tables. They build their nest on the ground, beneath some clod, forming it of hay, dry fibres, &c. and lay four or five eggs.—The place these birds are taken in the greatest quantity, is the neighbourhood of Dunstable: the season begins about the 14th of September, and ends the 25th of February; and during that space, about 4000 dozen are caught, which supply the markets of the metropolis. See Bird-Catching. Vastly greater numbers than the above, however, are at times caught in different parts of Germany, where there is an excise upon them. Keyser says, that the excise alone produces 6000 dollars (about £900 Sterling) every year to the city of Leipzig; whose larks are famous all over Germany as having the most delicate flavour. But it is not only at Leipzig that they are taken in such numbers, but also in the country about Naumburg, Merseburg, Halle, and other parts.—2. The pratensis, or tit-lark, has the two outward feathers of the wing edged with white, and frequents the meadows. It is found frequently in low marshy grounds: like other larks, it builds its nest among the grass, and lays five or six eggs. Like the wood-lark, it sits on trees; and has a most remarkable fine note, singing in all situations, on trees, on the ground, while it is sporting in the air, and particularly in its descent. This bird, with many others, such as the thrush, black-bird, willow-wren, &c. become silent about midsummer, and resume their notes in September: hence the interval is the most mute of the year's three vocal seasons, spring, summer, and autumn. Perhaps the birds are induced to sing again as the autumnal temperament resembles the vernal.—3. The arborea, or wood-lark, is a native of Europe, and is distinguished by an annular white fillet about the head. It is inferior in size to the sky-lark, and is of a shorter thicker form; the colours are paler, and its note is less sonorous and less varied, though not less sweet. It perches on trees, and whistles like the black-bird. It will sing in the night; and, like the common lark, will sing as it flies. It builds on the ground, and makes its nest on the outside with moss, within of dried bents, lined with a few hairs. It lays five eggs, dusky and blotched with deep brown marks, darkest at the thicker end. The males of this and the last are known from the females by their superior size. But this species is not near so numerous as that of the common kind. 4. The campestris, has one half of its chief feathers of the wings brown, except two in the middle which are white, and the throat and breast are yellowish.—5. The trivialis, whose chief feathers on the tail are brown, only half of the outermost is white, and the second is white at the end, in the shape of a wedge; there is likewise a double whitish line on the wings. It is a native of Sweden, and perches on the top of trees.—6. The cristata: the chief tail-feathers are black, but the two outermost are edged with white, and the head is crested. It is a native of Europe. It sings well, like the sky-lark; lays four or five eggs; and is said to hatch twice in a year.—7. The spinolleta: the chief tail-feathers are black, only only the outermost two are obliquely half white. It is a native of Italy.—8. The alpestris: the chief wing-feathers are half white, the throat yellow, and it has a black streak under the eyes and on the breast. It inhabits North America, where it is migratory. It visits the neighbourhood of Albany the beginning of May, but goes farther north to breed. In winter it comes in vast flocks into Virginia and Carolina, returning North in spring. It feeds, during its stay in the more southern parts, on oats and other grain; and while at Albany, on the grubs and the buds of sprig-birch. It runs into holes; whence the natives of these last parts have given it the name of chi-chup-pi-fue. The English call it the ortolan, and reckon it delicious eating. By some it is called snow bird, as being very plenty in that season. It is frequently caught in great numbers by means of horse-hair sponges placed in some bare place, the snow being scraped away, and a little chaff strewn about. It is always seen on the ground, and has little or no song. This bird is not peculiar to North America: we hear of it in Germany also; and is in plenty throughout Russia and Siberia, going northward in spring.—9. The magna, is yellow on the belly, with a crooked black streak on the breast, and the three side-feathers of the tail white. It is a native of Africa and America.—10. The New Zealand lark (Plate XVI.) is seven and a half inches in length: the bill is half an inch, of a pale ash-colour, with the upper part black: the upper parts of the body are dusky, edged with pale ash-colour: the breast and belly are white: the legs reddish ash-colour, and the claws black. It inhabits Charlotte Sound, and is called kogoo armoire.