172 XORTH AMKHICAX 151 RDS.- 



ill ininieiisu iiiniil)er.s dver tlit; wliulc Icii.i^th luid hroadtli of North America. 

 Gambol met tiiem in large minilieiH in New Mexico and Calit'ornia ; Jticli- 

 ardsoii found tiiem on tlie ])laiiis of the Sa.skatehewan ; it is abundant in 

 tlie Aretie. regions from May to Uctoljer, and is eiiually common on tlio 

 coast of Laljrador; Mr. Dall found it universal from Uritish ("olumhia north. 

 It is also found in Florida, ("ajjc St. Luca.s, Mexico, and Central America. 

 Accidental si)ecinieiis have occurretl in Kurope. 



This lark is a bird of easy and beautiful Hight, passing and rejiassing 

 through tlie air witli graceful evolutions, and when moving to new localities, 

 sweeping over the jjlace several times before alighting. It also moves 

 rajjidly on the grounil and after the manner of the true larks, jerking the 

 tail like our Water-Tiirnshcs and the Euro])eaii Wagtails. 



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

 sects and small seeds. On the lianks of rivers and on the seashore tliey arc 

 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. Aiuhiboii found them feeding, in com])any with tiie Turkey 

 Buzzard, ui)on garl)age. 



Dr. Cones found tlie Titlark abundant in every locality visited Ity him in 

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

 breeding-season. He I'ound thcni on .some of the most rocky and barren 

 islands along the coast. They i're([uented only the ojieii, bare, and exjiosed 

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

 wooded localities. The nests of this s])ecies found by him were identical in 

 situation, form, and consfructioii, ]ilaced on tlui sides of fiteej), ])reci]iitous 

 chasms, in small cavities in tlic earth, into which dry nio.ss had been intro- 

 duced to keep the nest from the damp ground. They vt-ere composed entirely 

 of coarse, dry grasses loosely ]int together, witlaait any lining. Tlieir exter- 

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



Dr. Cones describes the song of the male bird as very sweet and ])lea.sant. 

 j\Ir. Audubon sjieaks of it as consisting of a few dear and mellow notes 

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

 and louder song. 



Dr. Cones s])(!ak.s of their flight as undulating and unsteady, and never ])ro- 

 tracted to any great distance. They never alinht on bushes, l)ut always on 

 the gnmnd, where lliey run with great ease and rapidity. At low tides they 

 resorted to tlie muddy Hats, where tht'V ran about upon the eel-grass, .search- 

 ing for their food in comi)any with the small SandpiiK^rs and in a similar 

 maimer, finding there an abundance of food. At all limes they exhibited a 

 heedless familiarity and an entini want of fear of man, feeding unconcern- 

 etlly around tlie doors of the houses, and .searching for their in.sect food on 

 the roofs of the shells and dwellings. 



Iloth liirds inculiate and sit so closely that they lim.v almost be trodden 

 upon liefore they are willing to leave tlieir nest, and even then tinly llutter 



