186 THE SHORELARK. 



with dark brown ; the lower parts white. There is a re- 

 curved band of black on the head, and a large patch of 

 the same on the lower fore-neck ; there is also a band of 

 yellow over the eyes, and the throat has a yellow tinge. 



SHORE LAIIK. 



The length of the bird is about seven inches and a half; 

 on the top of the head are a few elongated feathers capable 

 of being erected, hence the name Horned Lark sometimes 

 given to it. 



The Shore Lark inhabits chiefly the northern parts of 

 Europe, Africa, and America ; in this country only about 

 four specimens have been taken, two of them in Kent. 

 Wilson, Richardson, and Audubon give detailed accounts 

 of its habits. The second of these authors says that it 

 arrives in the fen countries along with the Lapland Bunting, 

 with which it associates, and being a shyer bird, is the 

 sentinel, and alarms the flock on the approach of danger. 

 It returns to the marshy and woody eastern districts to 

 breed, extending its range to the shores of the Arctic seas. 

 The following description of the peculiarities of this bird is 

 extracted from the i Ornithological Biography ' of that ac- 

 complished and indefatigable naturalist, Audubon : 



The Shore Lark breeds on the high and desolate tracks of 

 Labrador, in the vicinity of the sea. The face of the country 

 appears as if formed of one undulated expanse of granite, covered 



