444 ALAUDID^E. 



old bird followed us almost to our boat, alighting occasion- 

 ally 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 eleva- 

 tion 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 en- 

 counters 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 disposition, and procured two or three indi- 

 viduals 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 on 

 wing, although its song is comparatively short. It springs 

 from the moss or naked rock obliquely for about forty 

 yards, begins and ends its madrigal, then performs a few 

 irregular evolutions, and returns to the ground. There also 

 it sings, but less frequently, and with less fulness. Its 

 call-note is quite mellow, and altered at times in a ventri- 

 loqual manner, so different, as to seem like that of another 

 species. As soon as the young are hatched, the whole are 

 comparatively mute, merely using the call-note. Only one 



