3 i4 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



remained behind when the ancestral Shore Lark 

 went north again to its old home round the Pole. 

 It is worthy of remark that the Shore Lark is 

 now much more frequently observed on the 

 British coasts than formerly. Either this is 

 because rare birds are more carefully looked 

 for, and the number of observers is greater, or 

 the bird is gradually assuming a more regular 

 winter migration. In the absence of sufficient 

 data it is, however, hard to decide. 



When in this country, the Shore Lark is 

 rarely seen far away from the coast. Strange as 

 it may seem, the habits of this bird are better 

 known during the summer, when it is in the far 

 north, than in the winter, when it is more or less 

 common in civilised countries. It is gregarious 

 and sociable in its habits, mixing repeatedly with 

 Lapland and Snow Buntings, as well as uniting 

 into flocks of its own kind to wander south in 

 winter, and return north in spring to its breeding 

 grounds. The Shore Lark, strictly speaking, 

 is a ground bird of all ground birds it is one 

 of the most terrestrial, its usual mode of pro- 

 gression being either a run or a walk, although 

 it is capable of hopping if occasion requires. 

 During its stay with us, it picks up its food upon 

 the beach and the wild rough land near the sea ; 

 this is principally composed of various small seeds 

 and buds, but in summer its diet is more in- 

 sectivorous. 



During the love season, the male Shore Lark 



