OF NEW ENGLAND. 239 



as a rule, very far from the sea-coast. In spring, however, 

 when the snow has been much melted, they sometimes venture 

 inland, and in ploughed lands, fields, and roads, pick up many 

 of the seeds, and perhaps a few of the insects, upon which 

 they habitually feed, or which at least afford them satisfactory 

 nourishment. They are very nimble, when on the ground, 

 where they are most of the time, but they have a singular habit 

 of hiding behind stones or in holes, so that when man ap- 

 proaches he is obliged to play at " hide-and-seek" with them, 

 before gaining their acquaintance. They retire in summer to 

 Labrador, where they build their nests near the sea 1 , on the 

 moss-covered rocks. 



(d) . The Shore Larks seem to possess notes much like those 

 of their celebrated European relation, for, says Wilson, they 

 " have a single cry, almost exactly like that of the Sky Lark 

 of Britain," and " are said to sing well ; mounting in the air, 

 in the manner of the Song Lark of Europe ; but this is only 

 in those countries where they breed." Audubon speaks of the 

 male uttering a very soft and plaintive note, when his nest has 

 been disturbed. 



The famous trait of the English Sky Lark, is probably 

 known to most readers of this volume, his manner of flying 

 toward the sky, constantly pouring out his delicious music, 

 until almost lost to sight. The poet Shelley has addressed 

 this bird in these spirited lines : 



"Hail to thee, blithe Spirit! 



" Bird thon never wert, 

 " That from heaven, or near it 



"Pourest thy full heart 

 " In profuse strains of unpremeditated art." 



"Higher still and higher 



" From the earth thou springest 

 " Like a cloud of fire; 



" The blue deep thou wingest, 

 " And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.' 1 



" In the golden lightning 



" Of the sunken sun 

 " O'er which clouds are brightening, 



" Thou dost float and run, 

 " Like an unbodied joy whose race is just begun." 



