128 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



It is during the autumnal migration of the larks, 

 which generally commences about the 20th of 

 September and continues until the end of October, 

 that this mode of warfare is in vogue. The direc- 

 tion taken by the larks in this periodical flight is 

 exactly the reverse of that observed by almost all 

 the warblers at the same season, being from east 

 to west; and a moderate breeze from the latter 

 point, accompanied by sunshine, ensures what is 

 called " good sport " by those who can find 

 amusement in this occupation. The fields in the 

 neighbourhood of the coast on both sides of the 

 town, are haunted by various parties of gunners 

 from the hour of sunrise until ten or eleven 

 o'clock, about which time the great flights of larks 

 cease or diminish, and there is no small degree of 

 competition among the performers for what are 

 considered the best places; four or five parties 

 sometimes occupying one field, and as many 

 shooters being attached to one lark-glass : but 

 notwithstanding the crowd, and the noise of voices 

 mingled with the continual roar of guns, the in- 

 fatuated birds advance stupidly to their doom, 

 hover in numbers over the decoy, and present the 

 easiest possible mark to the veriest tyro that ever 

 pulled a trigger. 



To any one, however, witnessing it for the first 

 time, the spectacle is sufficiently curious. Perhaps 



