LARK, Alauda, a genus of small birds of the order insessores, section conirostres, the type of a family alaudidce, to the whole of which the English name is commonly extended. In this family, the bill, although stout, and nearly conical, is more length ened than in buntings and finches. The toes are long, and separate to the base; the claws long and little curved. that of the hind toe generally very long The true larks (genus alauda) have also long wings, and great power of flight. Many of them are birds of passage. In common with almost all the family, they nestle and seek their food— seeds, insects, worms, etc.—on the ground; and in admirable harmony with this mode of life, their plumage exhibits much uniformity of coloring, so that when on the ground they may not readily be noticed by their enemies. The lark family is very widely dis tributed over the world. The COMMON LARK, FIELD LARK, or SKY LARK (alanda arrensis), is one of the best-known British birds, and notwithstanding the tameness of its brown plumage, is a universal favorite, on account of the sweetness of its cheerful song, which it pours forth whilst soaring and floating in the air, and which every one associates with pleasant scenes and delightful days. It more rarely sings on the ground. It is in great repute as a cage-bird, and sings well in confinement, but flutters its wings whilst singing, as if still desirous of soaring in the air. It abounds chiefly in open but culti vated districts. It is common in most parts of Europe, but from the more northern parts it migrates southward on the approach of winter. It is also a native of Asia, and is a winter visitant of the n. of Africa. It is not found in America. It makes its nest generally in an open field, and often under shelter of a tuft of herbage, or a clod of earth; lays four or five mottled eggs, and generally produces two broods in a season. It is not truly gregarious in summer, but in winter large flocks assemble together; and at this season multitudes of larks are taken for the table in the s. of England, in France, and other countries. They are often caught by horse-hair nooses, attached to a long line of packthread, to which the nooses are fastened at distances of about 6 in., the line
being pegged to the ground at intervals of 20 yards. This mode is most successful when the ground is covered with snow, and a little corn is scattered along the line. The clap-net (q.v.) and trammel-net (q.v.) are also employed by lark-catchers, and great numbers of larks are taken in some parts of England by dragging the trammel-net over the stubbles and pastures. Twirling for larks is a peculiar mode of turning to account the attractiveness which any glittering object possesses for these birds. It is a French practice. A piece of highly polished mahogany, or of some common wood inlaid with bits of looking-glass, is fastened on the top of a rod, so as to reflect the sun's rays upwards, and is made to twirl by means of a string. Larks are greatly attracted by it, congregate around it, and are readily shot in large numbers.—The CRESTED LARK (A. cristata), very similar in size and plumage to the common lark, but having the feathers of the crown of the head more distinctly developed into a crest, although a very com mon bird in many parts of Europe, and abundant near Calais, has very seldom been seen in Britain. The Wool) LARK (A. arborea), a smaller species, not 'infrequent in some parts of England, but rare in Scotland, is a bird of very delightful song, and usu ally sings perched on the branch of a tree. It frequents wooded districts. Its nest; however, is made on the ground.—The SHORE LARK (A. alpestris). which has only in rare instances been found in Britain, inhabits the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, and is the only North American species. Its song is very sweet. and gladdens the visitor of such desolate shores as those of Labrador, where it breeds, amidst the tufts of mosses and lichens, with which the bare rocks are interspersed. It is a winter visitant of New England, and is sometimes seen as far s. as Georgia. The head has two erectile tufts of feathers, somewhat resembling those of horned owls. Black, white, and yellow vary the brown plumage of the shore lark.