The Birds and Poets 261 



back from either side of the head, and black 

 patches at the front of the crown, from the base of 

 the bill to the eye, and extending down to the side 

 of the throat, and a black band across the upper 

 breast. One of the surest means of identification 

 is the persistent habit of remaining on the ground. 

 They are strictly terrestrial birds and never perch 

 in a tree. Also, they always run and never hop. 

 They are frequently seen running along country 

 roads. High roads between unfenced fields are 

 almost certain to yield a few horned larks. I know 

 a number of country roads where I usually may be 

 sure of finding some of these birds almost any day 

 in the year. When flushed they often utter a rather 

 inconspicuous whistle, as they dart off in their 

 irregular flight over the adjoining fields. The 

 chief song of the bird, a mincing warble, is some- 

 times poured forth as it tumbles about in its irregu- 

 lar flight and sometimes while perched on some 

 clod in the fields. This habit of singing in flight 

 is characteristic of the European Skylark, of which 

 George Sylvester Viereck writes : 



"Sweet is the high road 

 When the skylarks call" 



as though he might be speaking of one of our shore 

 larks on a country road. 



Some years ago I found a nest of this bird the 

 last week in February. It was placed in a tuft of 

 grass, along a railroad right of way. The ground 



