(96) 



of the upper mandible, extending back to the eye, and curving 

 downwards about half the length of the neck ; upper parts blackish 

 brown, the feathers margined with pale brown ; upper tail coverts 

 reddish-brown ; tail black, the outer two feathers margined exter- 

 nally with white, the middle pair broadly margined with brown, 

 and slightly tinged with reddish toward the base ; lesser wing cov- 

 erts dull red, and tipped with white, as are the secondaries and 

 their coverts ; lower parts dull white, with dusky brown markings 

 on the breast and sides of the body ; the feathers over the eyes are 

 long, which it has the power of erecting. Female with the plu- 

 mage not so bright, and the black bands on the head and neck 

 wanting. Length seven inches, wing three and seven-eighths. 



The Shore Lark arrives on Long Island in the latter part of Oc- 

 tober, and remains, according to the mildness of the season, until 

 the early or latter part of March, when it takes its departure north- 

 ward, and it is said extends to the shores of the Arctic seas. 



It lives in society, and dwells almost exclusively on the ground 

 — is usually observed on the dry, sandy fields and plains, but dur- 

 ing deep snows, is seen searching for food along the sea shore. It 

 feeds on the seeds of various wild plants, and when opportunity of- 

 fers, regales itself on the produce of the cultivated crops, such as 

 wheat, oats, and buckwheat, to obtain the scattered seeds of which 

 it sometimes frequents the " stubble" field. It also swallows large 

 quantities of sand, which, with particles of shells, and bits of sea- 

 weed, I have found in its stomach. During its stay with us it gets 

 very fat, and is shot to supply the demand in our market. Like 

 the Brown Lark, with which it is at times associated, it is capable 

 of rapid gait; and when surprised, mounts in the air, performs a 

 few evolutions, and usually descends near the spot from whence it 

 had been put to flight. Mr. Audubon, who found it. breeding at 

 Labrador, informs us that at that interesting period the male sings 

 sweetly. With us, its song is reduced to a single chirp, and that 

 is not often heard except when it is moving about on the wing. 



