PUGNACITY OF THE MALE. 187 



with mosses and lichens, varying in size and colour, some green, 

 others as white as snow, and others again of every tint, and 

 disposed in large patches or tufts. It is on the latter that this 

 Lark places her nest, which is disposed with so much care, while 

 the nest so resembles the bird in hue, that unless you almost tread 

 upon her as she sits, she seems to feel secure, and remains unmoved. 

 Should you, however, approach so near, she nutters away, feigning 

 lameness so cunningly, that none but one accustomed to the sight 

 can refrain from pursuing her. The male immediately joins her in 

 mimic wretchedness, uttering a note so soft and plaintive that it 

 requires a strong stimulus to force the naturalist to rob the poor 

 birds of their treasure. 



The nest around is imbedded in the moss to its edges, which are 

 composed of fine grasses, circularly disposed, and forming a bed 

 about two inches thick, with a lining of grouse feathers, and those 

 of other birds. In the beginning of July the eggs are deposited. 

 They are four or five in number, large, greyish, and covered with 

 numerous pale blue and brown spots. The young leave the nest 

 before they are able to fly, and follow their parents over the moss, 

 where they are fed about a week. They run nimbly, emit a soft 

 peep, and squat closely at the first appearance of danger. If 

 observed and pursued, they open their wings to aid them in their 

 escape, and, separating, make off with great celerity. On such 

 occasions it is difficult to secure more than one of them, unless 

 several persons be present, when each can pursue a bird. The 

 parents all this time are following the enemy overhead, lamenting 

 the danger to which their young are exposed. In several instances, 

 the old bird followed us almost to our boat, alighting occasionally 

 on a projecting crag before us, and entreating us, as it were, to 

 restore its offspring. By the first of August many of the young are 

 fully fledged, and the different broods are seen associating together, 

 to the number of forty, fifty, or more. They now gradually remove 

 to the islands of the coast, where they remain until their departure, 

 which takes place in the beginning of September. They start at 

 the dawn of day, proceed on their way south at a small elevation 

 above the water, and fly in so straggling a manner that they can 

 scarcely be said to move in flocks. 



This species returns to Labrador and the adjoining islands in the 

 beginning of June. The males are then so pugnacious and jealous of 

 their females, that the sight of one of their own sex instantly excites 

 them to give battle; and it is curious to observe, that no sooner 

 does one of these encounters take place, than several other males 

 join in the fray. They close, flutter, bite, and tumble over, as the 

 European Sparrow is observed to do on similar occasions. Several 

 times, while in Labrador, I took advantage of their pugnacious dis- 

 position, and procured two or three individuals at a shot, which it 

 is difficult to do at any other time. Several pairs breed in the same 

 place, but not near each other. The male bird sings sweetly while 



