THE SKYLAEK. 485 



place at that time; is the more conspicuous the more closely that the bird sits, it is 

 certain that the females of most birds avoid the sun, and that all cover their eggs from the 

 light during the period of incubation." 



Wilson says of this species that it makes its appearance in the northern states early 

 in December, coming in flocks of different sizes, and flying closely together at some little 

 elevation from the ground. They seem to be restless in their disposition, seldom staying 

 long in one spot, and resuming their flight after a short repose. The nest of the Snow 

 Bunting" is made in the most retired mountainous districts, and is placed in the cleft of a 

 rock at some distance from other habitations of the same species. It is built of grass 

 and feathers, and is lined with down or the fur of different quadrupeds ; the fox and the 

 hare being the most usual. The number of eggs is five, and the colour is white spotted 

 with brown. 



The song of the Lapland Bunting is feeble but pleasing, and is continually uttered 

 while the bird is sitting near its nest. There are, besides, several notes peculiar to this 

 bird ; one, a sweet, short call, and the other a harsh ringing scream of alarm. In several 

 countries this bird is valued for its flesh, which when it is fat is thought to be very 

 delicate, and in Greenland it is captured in great quantities and dried ; the Laplanders 

 have an idea that it fattens on the flowing of the tide and grows lean on the ebb. 



The food of this bird is rather various, but greatly consists of seeds. According 

 to Wilson, it " derives a considerable part of its food from the seeds of certain aquatic 

 plants, which may be one reason for its preferring those remote northern countries, 

 so generally intersected with streams, ponds, lakes, and sheltered arms of the sea, that 

 probably abound with such plants. In passing down the Seneca river towards Lake 

 Ontario, late in the month of October, I w^as surprised by the appearance of a large flock 

 of these birds feeding on the surface of the water, supported on the top of a growth of 

 weeds that rise from the bottom, growing so close together that our boat could with great 

 difficulty make its way through them. They were running about with great activity ; and 

 those I shot and examined were filled, not only with the seeds of this plant, but with a 

 minute kind of shell-fish that adheres to the leaves. In this kind of aquatic excursion 

 they are, doubtless, greatly assisted by the length of their hind heel and claws. I also 

 observed a few on Table Eock, above the falls of Niagara, seemingly in search of 

 the same kind of food." * 



As has already been noticed, the plumage of the Lapland Bunting varies greatly in its 

 colouring, passing through every imaginable stage between the winter and summer dress. 

 The winter plumage of this bird is briefly as follows : The back and part of the wings 

 are dark black-brown, and the whole of the remaining feathers are pure snowy white. In 

 all cases the amount of black is very variable, and in some instances the entire plumage 

 has been white. In the summer, the colour is a tawny brown, speckled with white, and 

 the back is black, mottled with brown. The quiU-feathers of the wing and tail are black, 

 variegated with bay and white, and the under surface dull white, deepening into tawny on 

 the flanks. The lenght of the bird is about seven inches. 



Besides the examples already given, there are very many other species of Bunting, some 

 inhabiting Great Britain, and others scattered over the surface of the globe, whose history is 

 equally interesting, but cannot be given in a work of the present dimensions. The 

 species, however, which have already been mentioned are good examples of the group, and 

 will serve as types by which the character of the sub-families may be known. 



The Larks may be readily recognised by the very great length of the claw of the hind 

 toe, the short and conical bill, and the great length of the tertiary quill-feathers of the 

 wing, which are often as long as the primaries. 



The first example of these birds is the well-known Skylaek, so deservedly famous for 

 its song and its aspiring character. 



This most interesting bird is happily a native of our land, and has cheered many a sad 

 heart by its blithe jubilant notes as it wings skyward on strong pinions, or flutters 

 between cloud and earth, pouring out its very soul in its rich wild melody. Early in the 

 spring the Lark begins its song, and continues its musical effort for nearly eight months, 



