SHORE LARK. 44] 
grain; others are less limited in the nature of their food ; 
but so great is the power of the beak in some of the species 
included in this division, that they are enabled to break 
down the hardest seeds, and even to crack the stones of 
various fruits, by which they obtain the highly-flavoured 
kernels within. The arrangement of the genera and species 
will exhibit a gradual increase in the size of the mandibles 
till the maximum of power is attained. | 
In the year 1831, I learned of my late friend, Mr. John 
Sims, then residing at Norwich, that a British-killed speci- 
men of the Shore Lark, the Alauda alpestris of authors, 
had come into his possession. The bird was shot on the 
beach at Sherringham in Norfolk in March 1830, it was 
preserved by Mr. Sims, and is now in the collection of 
Edward Lombe, Esq., of Great Melton, near Norwich, the 
possessor of one of the most complete and perfect collections 
of British Birds. 
A second example of this species, according to the testi- 
mony of Thomas Eyton, Esq., has been killed in Lincoln- 
shire; and I have heard of a pair that were obtained toge- 
ther on an extensive down in Kent, the male only of 
which, being the more showy and attractive bird, was 
preserved. 
The Shore Lark inhabits the northern parts of Asia, 
Europe, and America; but appears to be more plentiful 
on the continent of North America than elsewhere; and 
detailed accounts of its habits and geographical range will 
be found in the valuable works of Wilson, Dr. Richardson, 
and Mr. Audubon. 
Wilson says the Shore Lark visits the United States in 
winter, going as far south as Georgia. Mr. Audubon says, 
these birds in severe weather are seen in Massachusetts as 
early as October: but seldom proceed on the Atlantic side 
