"SKY" LARKS. 223 



ally notice both old and young seal together on the blocks. We 

 could only look at them, however, since the ice prevented us from 

 launching the boats, and they were too far off to be reached by 

 either rifle or shotgun. The distance appeared to be about two 

 miles and the inhabitants considered it as about such. When 

 tired of watching the seals, we turned our glass to the loom of 

 the Newfoundland coast that appeared in the distance like the 

 rising cloud of a heavy bank of autumnal Newfoundland fog. 

 Then again, nearer home, the open water in the bay reminded us 

 that soon the ice would disappear and the boats could be launched. 

 I was much impressed with the beautiful song of the larks 

 (^Eremophila cornuta) , which everywhere greeted us. Sometimes 

 they would send forth distant trills as they flew past the island high 

 over our heads, while at others they would sing the most beautiful 

 carols as they rose in spirals high into the air ; at still other times 

 they would hop about the dooryard free from distrust while they fed 

 upon the scraps scattered for them, for which they had chirped a few 

 notes of thankfulness before finally taking wing. About this time 

 flocks of snow buntings filled the air, and lit upon the snowy slopes 

 of the crests and knolls about the island, hotly chased by the boys 

 who kill them with stones, or catch them in snares. These birds 

 are generally tame and unusually fat, which renders them delicious 

 eating. The yard was now full of busy men ; the doorstep of happy 

 children ; and the house itself with the industrious housewives — all 

 intent upon putting things in order for present comfort and future 

 summer use. Meanwhile the dogs and little puppies enjoyed them- 

 selves romping over the island, while I remembered the two pussies 

 as they stood in the doorway, or rubbed about the doorsash, or 

 stood their ground against some venturesome dog who mildly poked 

 his nose into and inquired who was within the door. The whole 

 scene is painted on my memory as one of delight, as the ap- 

 proaching season wafted its breezes to a house and yard full of 

 delighted beings who had been cooped up for six long months in 

 the inmost recesses of a most piratical looking harbor where no 

 one would have suspected that such a thing as a house ever could 



