SKYLARK. A European lark (Aland° arren sis), the 'lark' (q.v.) par excellence of Great Britain, which, notwithstanding the tameness of its brown plumage, is a universal favorite on account of the sweetness of its cheerful song, which it pours forth while soaring and floating in the air. More rarely it sings on the ground. It is in great repute as a cage-bird, and sings well in confinement, fluttering its wings while singing, as if still desirous of soaring in the air. It abounds chiefly in open but cultivated 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 north of Africa. It has been introduced into America, and has become naturalized on Long Island. It makes its nest generally in an open field, and often under shelter of a tuft of herb age, 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 south of Europe by various trap ping devices. See Plates of LARKS AND STAR LINGS.
The crested lark (Aloud(' eristata), very simi lar 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 common bird in many parts of Europe, has very seldom been seen in Great Britain. The wood lark (Alaudn arboreal, a smaller species, not unfrequent in some parts of England, hut rare in Scotland, is a bird of very delightful song, and usually sings perched on the branch of a tree. It frequents wooded districts and is also a favorite cage-bird. The nearest American rep resentative of these birds is the (q.v.). Consult Dresser, Birds of Europe (London, 1879).
SLA, sill. A seaport of Morocco. See SALLEE.