172 :N'ORTir American birds. 



iu immense luimljers over tliu whole length aud breadth of North America. 

 Gambel met them iu large numbers iu New Mexico and California ; llich- 

 ardson found them ou the plains of the Saskatchewan ; it is abundant iu 

 the Arctic regions from May to October, aud is equally common on the 

 coast of Labrador; Mr. Dall fouml it universal from British Columbia udrth. 

 It is also found in Florida, Cape St. Lucas, ilexico, and Central America. 

 Accidental specimens lia\e occurred in Europe. 



This lark is a bird of easy aud beautiful flight, passing aud repassing 

 through the air with graceful evolutions, and when moving to uew localities, 

 sweeping over the place several times before alighting. It also moves 

 rapidly on the ground and after the manner of the true larks, jerking the 

 tail like our Water-Thrushes and the European Wagtails. 



When feeding ou the open ground iu the interior, tlieir food is cliieily in- 

 sects and small seeds. On the banks of rivers and on the seashore they are 

 i'oud of running along the edge of the water, searching among the drift for 

 insects, small shells, and crustaceans. Near New Orleans aud Charleston, in 

 the winter, Mr. Audubon found them feeding, iu compauy with the Turkey 

 Buzzard, upon garbage. 



Dr. Coues found the Titlark abundant in every locality visited liv him in 

 Labrador, giving him an amjile oiiportunity to observe its habits during the 

 breeding-season. He found them on sonu^ of the most rocky and barren 

 islands along the coast. Tliey frequented only the open, bare, and exposed 

 situations, such as that coast everywliere afforded, and were never found in 

 wooded localities. Tlie nests of this species found by him were identical in 

 situation, form, and construction, placed on the sides of steep, precipitous 

 chasms, in small cavities in the earth, into which dry moss had been intro- 

 duced to keep the nest from the damp ground. They were composed eutirely 

 of coarse, dry grasses loosely put together, witliout any lining. Their exter- 

 nal diameter was six inches, and the depth of the cavity two inches. 



Dr. Coues describes the song of the male bird as very sweet and jjleasaut. 

 Mr. AuduVxin speaks of it as consisting of a few clear and mellow notes 

 when on the wing, aud when standing erect on the rocks it produces a clearer 

 and louder song. 



Dr. Coues speaks of their flight as undulating and unsteady, and never pro- 

 tracted to any great distance. They never aliLclit ou buslies, but always on 

 the ground, where they run with great ease and rapidity. At low tides tliey 

 resorted to the muddy flats, where they ran about upon the eel-grass, search- 

 ing for their food in comjiany with the small Sandjiipers and in a similar 

 manner, finding there an abundance of food. At all times they exhibited a 

 heedless familiarity and an entire want of fear of man, feeding unconcern- 

 edly around the doors of the houses, and searching for their insect food on 

 the roofs of the sheds and dwellings. 



Both birds incubate and sit so closely that they may almost be trodden 

 upon liefore they are willing to leave their nest, and e\'eu then only flutter 



