44.4, ALAUDIDA. 
old bird followed us almost to our boat, alighting occasion- 
ally on a projecting crag before us, and entreating us, as it 
were, to restore its offspring. By the first of August many 
of the young are fully fledged, and the different broods are 
seen associating together to the number of forty, fifty, or 
more. They now gradually remove to the islands of the 
coast, where they remain until their departure, which takes 
place in the beginning of September. They start at the 
dawn of day, proceed on their way south at a small eleva- 
tion above the water, and fly in so straggling a manner, that 
they can scarcely be said to move in flocks.” 
‘This species returns to Labrador and the adjoining 
islands in the beginning of June. The males are then so 
pugnacious and jealous of their females, that the sight of one 
of their own sex instantly excites them to give battle; and 
it is curious to observe, that no sooner does one of these en- 
counters take place, than several other males join in the 
fray. They close, flutter, bite, and tumble over, as the 
European Sparrow is observed to do on similar occasions. 
Several times while in Labrador, I took advantage of their 
pugnacious disposition, and procured two or three indi- 
viduals at a shot, which it is difficult to do at any other 
time. Several pairs breed in the same place, but not near 
each other. The male bird sings sweetly while on 
wing, although its song is comparatively short. It springs 
from the moss or naked rock obliquely for about forty 
yards, begins and ends its madrigal, then performs a few 
irregular evolutions, and returns to the ground. There also 
it sings, but less frequently, and with less fulness. Its 
call-note is quite mellow, and altered at times in a ventri- 
loqual manner, so different, as to seem like that of another 
species. As soon as the young are hatched, the whole are 
comparatively mute, merely using the call-note. Only one 
