406 ALAUDID.E. 



entreating us, as it were, to restore its offspring. By the first 

 of August many of the young are fully fledged, and the dif- 

 ferent broods are seen associating together to the number of 

 forty, fifty, or more. They now gradually remove to the 

 islands of the coast, where they remain until their departure, 

 which takes place in the beginning of September. They 

 start at the dawn of day, proceed oti their way south at a 

 small elevation above the water, and fly in so straggling a 

 manner, that they can scarcely be said to move in flocks." 



" This species returns to Labrador and the adjoining 

 islands in the beginning of June. The males are then so 

 pugnacious and jealous of their females, that the sight of one 

 of their own sex instantly excites them to give battle ; and 

 it is curious to observe, that no sooner does one of these en- 

 counters take place, than several other males join in the fray. 

 They close, flutter, bite, and tumble over, as the European 

 Sparrow is observed to do on similar occasions. Several 

 times while in Labrador, I took advantage of their pugna- 

 cious disposition, and procured two or three individuals at a 

 shot, which it is difficult to do at any other time. Several 

 pairs breed in the same place, but not near each other. The 

 male bird sings sweetly while on wing, although its song is 

 comparatively short. It springs from the moss or naked rock 

 obliquely for about forty yards, begins and ends its madrigal, 

 then performs a few irregular evolutions, and returns to the 

 ground. There also it sings, but less frequently, and with 

 less fulness. Its call-note is quite mellow, and altered at 

 times in a ventriloqual manner, so different, as to seem like 

 that of another species. As soon as the young are hatched, 

 the whole are comparatively mute, merely using the call-note. 

 Only one brood is reared each season. The food of the 

 Shore Lark consists of grass seeds, the blossoms of dwarf 

 plants, and insects. It is an expert catcher of flies, following 

 insects on wing to a considerable distance, and now and then 



