THE BIRDS 379 



width from Natashquan on the southern coast along the 

 shore of the Straits of Belle Isle, the entire eastern coast, 

 and the Hudson Bay coast south to about the region of the 

 mouth of the Great Whale River. 



Two characteristic Arctic birds, which the visitor along 

 the southern and eastern coast will be most likely to see, 

 are the American pipit and the horned lark. These are 

 common everywhere along the coast, building their nests 

 in the deep moss of the barren hills. Both birds are grace- 

 ful walkers along the ground, and the pipit distinguishes 

 itself by its habit of constantly wagging its tail up and down. 

 Both birds are interesting singers, and both indulge in flight 

 songs, each in its own peculiar manner. The pipit suddenly 

 springs up into the air, mounting nearly vertically, but 

 circling slightly. Up, up it goes, singing repeatedly a simple 

 refrain, die whee, che whee, with a vibratory resonance on 

 the whee. Attaining an eminence of perhaps two hundred 

 feet, it checks itself and at once begins its descent. Down 

 it goes, faster and faster, repeating its song at the same 

 time faster and faster. Long before it reaches the ground, 

 it sets its wings and tips from side to side to break its 

 descent. During the performance it may emit its refrain 

 eighty times. 



The horned lark, on the other hand, mounts silently into 

 the air in irregular circles, until it becomes a mere speck in 

 the sky. Here it alternately flaps its wing and sails, emit- 

 ting a jingling, squeaking, but not unpleasing, song. This 

 performance continues for several minutes, during which 

 the bird repeats its song many times. Then the song ceases, 

 and the bird dives to the earth as silently as it rose. Oc- 

 casionally the song is given from the ground. The song 



