28 RIVERSIDE LETTERS iv 



immediate vicinity of man, whereas the lark's 

 habitat is spread over the broad land in every 

 direction. In the winter I have sometimes 

 witnessed the partial migration of larks ; a 

 broad continuous stream of birds from N.E. to 

 S.W. which flew overhead uninterruptedly for 

 nearly twenty minutes. I was told these birds 

 go to the marshy lands about the estuaries 

 of our southern rivers. 



Yesterday we were out with the dog about 

 sunset, there was a cold west wind blowing, 

 the sun going down in a clear sky, just after 

 a slight shower with its accompanying rain- 

 bow. When we reached the open fields Ben 

 started off at once hunting, though at the 

 time not a bird was to be seen anywhere ; but 

 it was astonishing to see him put up larks 

 in every direction as he " scoured awa' in 

 lang excursion," at times quite out of sight. 

 Many of these, when thus disturbed, began to 

 rise and sing, but not in the upward circling 

 manner which they do in the midday sun- 

 shine. As far as I could judge there seemed 



