252 THE SKYLARK. 



all the county ; but in some localities, such as the neigh- 

 bourhood of Gordon,^ it is more plentiful than in others. It 

 is by no means numerous in the vicinity of Paxton, and 

 possibly the large rookery here may have something to do 

 with its scarcity, for it has been alleged that Eooks destroy 

 the eggs of Skylarks.^ Towards the end of harvest they 

 are often seen by the partridge-shooter in stubble and grass 

 fields, and are frequently a source of annoyance to him, on 

 account of his dogs making false points at them, their scent 

 being apparently somewhat similar to that of the Partridge. 

 They are then generally found singly, and lie very close to 

 the dog's point; but, as autumn advances, they become 

 gregarious, assembling in considerable numbers and feeding 

 on the stubble fields. Enormous flocks of Skylarks are 

 seen on migration at the lighthouses on the east coasts of 

 England and Scotland in autumn and spring.^ In severe 

 snow-storms, such as those of the winters of 1878-79 and 

 of 1879-80, great numbers sometimes visit the neigh- 

 bourhood of the sea-coast, when the snow is not lying 

 so thickly there as in the more inland districts. On the 

 27th of January 1879, during the continuance of the 

 heavy snow-storm, which was then lying all over the interior 



1 Eist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. ix. pp. 229, 235. 



2 A writer in the Scotsman, dating from Orkney, 26th April 1886, says, that 

 in Shetland, where there are no Rooks, Skylarks are very plentiful, and that in 

 Orkney Larks were likewise very numerous until about ten years ago, when 

 Rooks first came to that island. Since then the Rooks have increased largely, 

 and the decrease in the number of Skylarks is marked. 



3 Flocks of Skylarks were seen on Taigvation in Autumn 1880. — At Fames, 

 30th Sep. to 31st Oct. Autumn 1881.— Isle of May, 24th to 27th Sep. Spring 

 1882.— Isle of May, 15th March. Autumn 1882.— Isle of May, 11th to 18th Sep. 

 and in October. Mr. Cordeaux records immense flocks crossing east coast of 

 England both day and night, at twenty-nine stations. Spring 1883.— Isle of 

 May, 11th Feb. Autumn 1883.— Isle of May, 21st Sep. to 1st Nov., Mr. Cor- 

 deaux records immense numbers at all stations on the east coast of England. 

 Autumn 1884.— Isle of May, 12th to 16th Nov., great flocks; also along whole 

 of east coast of England, from 6th Sep. to 23rd Dec. Spring 1885.— Isle of 

 May, 18th Feb. ; Fames, 7th April. Autumn 1885.— Isle of May, 14th Oct., 

 great flocks ; Fames, 12th to 20th Oci.—- Reports on Migration of Birds, 1879-85. 



