Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-04
THE SKYLARK.
An Interesting Article by
Hon. L. J. Rose.
THE BIRD OF THE HEAVENS.
Twelve Pair to be Set Free in Los
Angeles County in
Few Days.

EDITORS HERALD: I have imported
twelve pairs OF skylarks from England
I have them now in house built out of
wire and canvas, at Rosemeade. San
Gabriel valley, and intend to set them
free in short time, for the purpose that
they may breed and become an inhabit-
ant in California.
write this, as wish to give general
notice to all the good people of this
county and to bespeak for them their
fostering care, for, if they become
common, they will add great
charm to our country by their
melodious songs. This charming
warbler is spread all over Europe
His color is light redish brown, the upper
part of his body, neck and breast has
darker streaks and shading off lighter to
the under part of his body. He resem-
blea his cousin, the meadow lark in
shape and some habits. however, having
no yellow markings, but differs entirely
in his song and fight, and only sings
when he flies. His movement on the wing
is always upwardsin perpendicular line
after leaving his grassy abode, beginning
his sweet song which he continues un-
ceasingly until out of sight, and even
then you may hear his sweet voice dying
away as if in the clouds. He descends
in like manner, still continuing to crafty
his hearers below, with his own peculiar
melody until within short distance OF
his nest, where he silently alights hiding
in the grass. His abiding place and
home is always in the open fields of
grain or meadows, never alighting on
trees or ever living in woods. He feeds
on small seeds of weeds and insects,
even in this becoming boon to the
agriculturist. His nest, like that of the
meadow lark, is built in some hole or
depression in the ground in meadows
and grain fields. Some OF my very early
and most pleasant recollections of Ger
man rural life are associated with this
bird, as when some dewy morning l
wandered afield and heard his clear notes,
when he was lost to sight in the blue
dome of heaven. His wings, unlike tho Sc
of the meadow lark, are long, and HE
flight is remarkably strong and pro
longed.
Shakespeare fancied that this bird
went singing up into the very gates Of
heaven.
Shelly has a poem "To Skylark," !"
which is one of his most beautiful poems,
so considered by the admirers Of that
gifted poet, commencing thus:
"Hail to thee. blithe spirit!
Bird thou never vert,
That from heaven or near 1t,
POurest thy full heart
In profuse strains of unprecedented art"
Wordsworth, too, has sung his praise,
and. as it is not long, and as it describes
the habit of the bird, I will give itentire: /:
TO THE sKYLARK.
Ethereal MINSTREL pil grim of the sky!
Dost thou despise the earth. where cares
Or. while toe wings aspire. are heart and eye
Both with thy nest upon the dewy ground?
Thy nest, which thou canst drop into at will,
Those 9niveIing wings composed, that music
To the last puint of vision, and beyond
Mount daring warbler!-That love prompted
-Twixt thee and thine never falling bond
Thrills not The less the bosom of the plain;
Yet might'st thou seem, proud privileged
All independent of the leafy spring.
Leave to the nightingale her shady wood;
privacy of glorious light is thine,
Whence thou dost pour upon the world flood
OF harmony, with instinct more divine;
Type of the wise, who soar but never roam
True 10 the kindred points of Heaven and home.
There is a reasonable certainty that the
skylark will breed and propagate here,
for our climatic conditions are as favor
able as any part of the globe. The draw
backs the greatest. perhaps, is the gun
In the hands of the boy or pot-hunter,
and rely on all people who read this to
warn all whom they may see against this.
1t ls unfortunate that the meadow-lark is
last disappearing by reason of being shot,
and 1t seems very cruel, when you give
the matter serious thought, that men
will shootth beautiful birds, who charm
the lover of nature with their plaintiye,
sweet song, and beautiful forms and
plumage. That this pleasure-giving and
innocent life should be sacrificed simply
to get two or three mouthfuls of meat. is
cruel, and q wanton destruction of life.
There should be law to protect them.
Squirrels will prove enemies, for they
will destroy their nest; 80, to, weasels,
skunks and other vermin of like nature !;
also hawks, especially the small species,
chicken hawks. The public can do
much to aid me in making this
experiment a success, and I feel
sure that they will wish to do
so. This bird is shy and not satisfac
tory cage bird; in fact, his habit is to
sing while he flies, and, therefore, sings
rarely in confinement. This will be
some advantage, for there will be but
little object to rob the nest of the young,
as is now practiced with cur mocking-
birds, which, in consequence, have al
most disappeared. L. Rose.
Santa Ana Notes.
A large and enthusiastic meeting OF
the cifizann Of tho nronoaod counfu of