LARK (0. Eng. ldwerce, Ger. Lerche,

See also:

• DAN

Dan. Laerke, Dutch Leeuwerik)  , a bird's name used in a rather general sense, the specific meaning being signified by a prefix, as skylark, titlark, woodlark . It seems to be nearly conterminous with the Latin Alauda as used by older authors; and, though this was to some extent limited by Linnaeus, several of the species included by him under the genus he so designated have long since been referred elsewhere . By Englishmen the word lark, used without qualification, almost invariably means the skylark, Alauda arvensis, which, as the best-known and most widely spread species through-out Europe, has been invariably considered the type of the genus . Of all birds it holds unquestionably the foremost place in English literature . It is one of the most favourite cage birds, as it will live for many years in captivity, and, except in the season of moult, will pour forth its thrilling song many times in an hour for weeks or months together . The skylark is probably the most plentiful of the class in western Europe . Not only does it frequent almost all unwooded districts in that quarter of the globe, but, unlike most birds, its numbers increase with the spread of agricultural improvement . Nesting chiefly in the growing corn, its eggs and young are protected in a great measure from molestation; and, as each pair of birds will rear several broods it importance in the military history of Italy from the Hannibalic wars onwards . The town was a municipium, situated on the main road to the S.E., which left the coast at Histonium (Vasto) and ran from Larinum E. to Sipontum . From Larinum a branch road ran to Bovianum Vetus . Remains of its city walls, of its amphitheatre and also of baths, &c., exist, and it did not cease to be inhabited until after the earthquake of 1300, when the modern city was established . Cluentius, the client of Cicero, who delivered a speech in his favour, was a native of Larinum, his father having been praetor of the allied forces in the Social War .

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