Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/88

70&#93; 7o] LAR that this, and the following species, are the only known creatQfes that sing during their flight. — ^The fe- male sky-lark construfts her ncbt in lields productive of high grass, or in marshes, on the ground, be- neath some clod ; forming it of hay, dry tibres, &c. : she deposits four or five eggs, and produces young" ones thiee, and often four times in a year. — In the neighbour- hood of Dunstable, these buds are taken in great numbers, from the 14th of September to the 25 th of Februaiy ; during which time about 4000 dozens are caught, to supply the markets ot the metropt^lis. 2. The arlorea, or Wood-lakk, is distinguished by an annular white fiilet about the head. It is of in- ferior size, and its notes are weaker and less musical. This little war- bler, when in the cage, often sti"ives to excel the nightingale ; and, if not speedily removed from the place where he is suspended, will certainly fall a viftim to emulation. Wood-larlts perch on trees, and tlieir whistle resembles t-'at of a black-bird ; tlie female builds her nest on the ground, and furnishes it externally with moss, but inter- nally with dried bent-grass, &:c. She ]ays five eggs, of a dusky colour, interspersed with deep brown spots. The corrmon food of young larks Teaied in an aviary, is a hen's egg boiled haid, and chopped or grated ■very lir.e, together With the crumb of brctid, and hemp-seed j but, if dii-ea'^ed, a few wood-lice may be given them : a little liquorice, and iublade of saftron, may also l)e in- fused in their water, which will contribute to their speedy recovery. ■ Method rf catching Larks : — The nsual praiitice of taking these birds is, by trammels, or a kind of nets, generally 36 yards in length, and L AT about 6 yards in breadth, having six ribs of pack thread, which are fastened on two poles, about six- teen feet Ion '•. After seleding the darkest night for this sport, the net is to be drawn over the ground by two men, who fret (uenlly drop it, lest they should pass ovei the birds } as soon as the latt'-r are prrceived. to fly up against the trammel, it is instantly clapped down, and thus the larks are secured. — This net is also well calculated for catching various other kinds of birds, such as partridges, quails, woodcocks, &c. LARK-SPUR, or Delphhmim, L. a genus of plants, consisting of 14 species, one of which only is indigenous J namely, the coiisolida, oiWi;d Lark-spur; Field Lark-spur, or Lark's-hcel : it grows in corn- fields, and flowers from the month of June to September. The expressed juice of the petals of this plant imparts a green co- lour ; and, ith the addition of a little aum, will produce a good blue ink. — The seeds aie acrid and poise nous. — Sheep and g;.i.ts eat tiie lark-spur ; horses doiiot relish it; while cows and swine tota ly refuse it. — Bees are remarkably at- tached to its flowers, which are likewise gathered by the country- people ot Germany, cut small, and mixed with tobacco 3 as they are said to impn^e its flavour. Lassitude. See Debility. LATH, in building, a long, thill, narrow slip of woc(i, which is naikd on the ratters of a roof, in order to suj^poit its covering. Laths are divided fnto three classes, according as (hey consist of diflisrent kinds of wood : viz. 1 . Such as are formed of heart of oak, and which are used otily for tiling; 2. Sap; and 3. Leal-laths; both