THE BIRDS 379 
width from Natashquan on the southern coast along the 
shore of the Straits of Belle Isle, the entire eastern coast, 
and the Hudson Bay coast south to about the region of the 
mouth of the Great Whale River. 
Two characteristic Arctic birds, which the visitor along 
the southern and eastern coast will be most likely to see, 
are the American pipit and the horned lark. These are 
common everywhere along the coast, building their nests 
in the deep moss of the barren hills. Both birds are grace- 
ful walkers along the ground, and the pipit distinguishes 
itself by its habit of constantly wagging its tail up and down. 
Both birds are interesting singers, and both indulge in flight 
songs, each in its own peculiar manner. The pipit suddenly 
springs up into the air, mounting nearly vertically, but 
circling slightly. Up, up it goes, singing repeatedly a simple 
refrain, che whée, che whée, with a vibratory resonance on 
the whée. Attaining an eminence of perhaps two hundred 
feet, it checks itself and at once begins its descent. Down 
it goes, faster and faster, repeating its song at the same 
time faster and faster. Long before it reaches the ground, 
it sets its wings and tips from side to side to break its 
descent. During the performance it may emit its refrain 
eighty times. 
The horned lark, on the other hand, mounts silently into 
the air in irregular circles, until it becomes a mere speck in 
the sky. Here it alternately flaps its wing and sails, emit- 
ting a jingling, squeaking, but not unpleasing, song. This 
performance continues for several minutes, during which 
the bird repeats its song manytimes. Then the song ceases, 
and the bird dives to the earth as silently as it rose. Oc- 
casionally the song is given from the ground. The song 
