466 ALAUDIM. 



tirely on grain ; others are less limited in the nature of 

 their food ; but so great is the power of the beak in some 

 of the species included in this division, that they are en- 

 abled to break down the hardest seeds, and even to crack 

 the stones of various fruits, by which they obtain the 

 highly-flavoured kernels within. The arrangement of the 

 genera and species will exhibit a gradual increase in the 

 size of the mandibles till the maximum of power is at- 

 tained. 



In the year 1831, I learned of my late friend, Mr. John 

 Sims, then residing at Norwich, that a British-killed speci- 

 men of the Shore Lark, the Alauda alpestris of authors, 

 had come into his possession. The bird was shot on the 

 beach at Sherringham, in Norfolk, in March, 1830 ; it was 

 preserved by Mr. Sims, and was in the collection of the 

 late Edward Lombe, Esq., of Great Melton, near Norwich, 

 the possessor of one of the most complete and perfect col- 

 lections of British Birds. 



A second specimen has been shot near Yarmouth, as re- 

 corded by J. H. Gurney, Esq. ; and a nest, containing four 

 eggs, placed on grass close to the sea, has been found near 

 Exmouth. Zoologist, 1852, p. 3707. 



Another example of this species, according to the testi- 

 mony of Thomas Eyton, Esq., has been killed in Lincoln- 

 shire ; one very recently near Redcar ; and I have heard of 

 a pair that were obtained together on an extensive down in 

 Kent, the male only of which, being the more showy and 

 attractive bird, was preserved. 



The Shore Lark inhabits the northern parts of Asia, 

 Europe, and America ; but appears to be more plentiful 

 on the continent of North America than elsewhere ; and 

 detailed accounts of its habits and geographical range will 

 be found in the valuable works of Wilson, Audubon, and 

 Sir John Richardson. 



