330 SHORE LARK. 



to Asia and Europe. The specimens which are 

 now and then picked up in Britain can only be 

 looked upon as having strayed, or been driven 

 from their migratory courses. In most of its 

 localities it is migratory, and we have notices of 

 its occurrence in the Arctic Regions, by the 

 authors of the Northern Zoology, and a very 

 interesting account of its manners in summer by 

 Mr Audubon.* That ornithologist found them 

 breeding on the coasts and islands of Labrador. 

 Like the others, the song is sweet, warbled when 

 on the wing, and occasionally on the ground. 

 The nest is placed on the moss-covered ground, 

 and " is disposed with so much care, while the 

 moss so much resembles the bird in hue, that 

 unless you almost tread upon her as she sits, she 

 seems to feel secure, and remains unmoved. It 

 is imbedded in the moss to its edges, which are 

 composed of fine grasses, circularly disposed, and 

 forming a bed about two inches thick, witb a 

 lining of grouse feathers, and those of other birds. 

 The eggs are four or five in number, large, gray- 

 ish, and covered with numerous pale blue and 

 brown spots."f 



In a specimen before us from North America, 

 the upper parts are hair brown, the centre of each 

 feather darker, and tinged upon the nape with 

 pale hyacinth red. The shoulders and rump are 

 hyacinth red, the feathers having pale edges. 

 The wings and tail are blackish brown, having the 



* Orm Biog. ii. p. 570. t Ibid. 



