172 NORTH AMEIilCAX lURDS.- 



in iinniense numbers over tlie whole length and breadth of Xorth America. 

 Gambel met them in lar^e numbers in New Mexico and California ; Jiich- 

 ardson found tliem on tlie ]>lains of the Saskatchewjin ; it is abundant in 

 tlie Arctic re^nons from Ahiy to October, and is eciually common on the 

 coast of l^ibrador ; Mr. Dall found it universal from JJritish Columbia north. 

 It is also found in Florida, Cape St. Lucas, Mexico, and Central America. 

 Accidental sj>ecimens have occurred ii^ Kurojie. 



This lark is a bird of easy and beautiful Higlit, passing and rej Kissing 

 through the air with graceful evcjlutions, and when moving to new localities, 

 sweeping over the i)lace several times before alighting. It also moves 

 nij)idly on the ground and after tlie manner of the true larks, jerking the 

 tail like our Water-Thrushes and tlie P2uro])ean AVagtails. 



When feeding on the open ground in the interior, their food is chiefly in- 

 sects and small seetls. On the banks of rivers and on the seashore they are 

 fond of running along the edge of the water, searching among the drift for 

 insects, small shells, and crustaceans. Near New Orleans and Charleston, in 

 the winter, Mr. Audubon found them feeding, in com])any with the Turkey 

 Buzzard, nj)on garbnge. 



Dr. Cones found the Titlark abundant in every locality visited by liim in 

 Labrador, giving him an ample opportunity to observe its habits during the 

 breeding-season. He found them on some of the most rocky and barren 

 islands along the coast. They fie<[ueiited only the open, bare, and exposed 

 situations, such as that coast everywhere aiforded, and were never found in 

 wooded localities. The nests of this species found by him were identical in 

 situation, form, and construction, ])laced on the sides of steep, precij)itous 

 chasms, in small cavities in the earth, into which dry moss had been intro- 

 duced to keep the nest from the damp ground. They vrere composed entirely 

 of coarse, dry grasses huisely put together, without any lining. Their exter- 

 nal diameter was six inches, and the depth of the cavity two inches. 



Dr. C<»ues describes the song of the male bird as very sweet and pleasant 

 ^[r. Audubon speaks of it as consisting of a few clear and mellow notes 

 when on the wing, and when standing erect on the rocks it produces a clearer 

 and louder song. 



Dr. Cones speaks of their flight as undulating and unsteady, and never pro- 

 tracted to any great distance. They never aliuht on bushes, but always on 

 the ground, where they run with great e.'ise and rajadity. At low tides they 

 resorted to the muddy flats, where they mn about upon the eel-grass, search- 

 ing for their food in com])any with the small Sandpipers and in a similar 

 manner, finding there an abuTidance of food. At all times they exhibited a 

 heedless familiarity and an entire want of fear of man, feeding nnconcern- 

 edly around the doors of the houses, and searching for their insect food ou 

 the roofs of the sheds and dwellinus. 



Both birds incubate and sit so closely that they may almost 1k3 trodden 

 upon before they are willing to leave their nest, and even then only flutter 



