258 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



be called rare. One observer stated, only a year or two 

 ago, that along the skn^ts of Dartmoor he knew of more 

 Wood Larks than Skylarks. But in the northern counties 

 few are seen. 



One more member of the Lark family must be mentioned, 

 and that is the SHORE LARK. He is a northern bird, 

 who visits this country in autumn and winter. Seeds in 

 the colder months and insects in the summer-time are his 

 food. He is not the favourite of the poets, like his cousin 

 the Skylark ; but in one of Robert Browning's poems 

 we find a pretty reference to this bird : — 



"Listening the while, where on the heap of stones 

 The white breast of the sea-lark twitters sweet." 



Fifty years ago, it would seem, he was regarded as be- 

 longing to North America, but we know now that the 

 Shore Larks that visit us have come from places far nearer 

 than that — for many a forest border along the north of 

 Europe and Asia sends them hither when the time for 

 travelling comes. 



