64 THE SHORE-LARK. 



be even more exclusively a ground-bird than the 

 Sky- Lark. It runs along the sand with the greatest 

 ease ; but when watching a flock of Lapland 

 Buntings and Shore-Larks feeding on an oasis of 

 grass in the snow, I noted down that both species 

 occasionally advanced by a series of hops, and 

 that the Shore- Lark did so more than the Lapland 

 Bunting. During migration, the Shore-Lark is 

 a gregarious bird, and though the first flocks 

 consisted of Shore-Larks only, as soon as the 

 Lapland Buntings began to arri\{e, they seemed 

 to be on the best of terms together, and the later 

 flocks usually consisted of both species.' Flocks 

 of Pipits were migrating about the same time, 

 and it was very striking to contrast the wildness 

 of these birds with the tameness of the Shore- 

 Larks. 



"The Shore- Lark often sings on the ground, 

 and when apparently too busily engaged in 

 feeding to mount in the air for the purpose, will 

 occasionally utter snatches of song. At their 

 breeding-places, they sing continuously, mounting 

 up into the air like a Sky-Lark, and singing 

 their charming song, as they sail about with 

 wings and tail expanded. The song is very 



