RAVEN. 95 



almost everywhere, and it used to be not uncommonly 

 seen on the sea-shore, but it is now exceedingly rare, 

 and its extinction is probably only a question of a few 

 years. 



FAMILY ALAUDID.E.— GENUS ALAUDA. 



SKY-LAEK. 



Alauda arvensis, LinnfEus. 



Eesident, and one of our commonest birds. It is 

 universally distributed, and does not seem generally to 

 vary much in numbers ; but near Clitheroe it is not as 

 common as it used to be, and Mr. E. Standen says the 

 same of his district about Goosnargh. Individuals 

 (whether the regular residents or not cannot be said) 

 may be seen everywhere in winter, but a partial 

 migration takes place in spring and autumn, and 

 immense flocks collect on the sea-coast, very much 

 added to by arrivals from north and south. Mr. E. J. 

 Howard says that Sky-Larks and Starlings are the only 

 birds which strike the lantern of Lytham lighthouse. 

 Thousands are sent to the markets, caught on the 

 mosses and sand-hills, mostlj'' by means of what are 

 called panties : these being loops of horsehair attached 

 at short intervals to a line fifty or sixty yards in length. 

 "William Blundell of Crosby, who was born in 1620, and 

 whose jottings have lately been edited by the Eev. T. E. 

 Gibson in "A Cavalier's Note-book," appears to have 

 been a great bird-catcher, and besides relating modes of 

 trapping wild-ducks, stares, hawks, and pheasants, says 

 " a great help to the cymbal-nets* for bringing in of 



* The cymbal-net or clap-net is still used very extensively on 

 the stubbles and grass lands of Lancashire, mostly near the coast, 



