30 ALAUDID.E. 



In these unfrequented regions the birds show little fear, and 

 the female retains her place upon her nest until very nearly 

 approached, either confident in its close resemblance to the 

 surrounding surface of the ground, or fearless in the pro- 

 tection of her treasure ; if, however, too nearly approached, 

 she rises from the spot, and with well-feigned lameness, or 

 real agony of alarm, attempts to withdraw the attention 

 of the intruder from her unprotected offspring. At this 

 period the song of the Shore-lark is in its full perfection ; 

 the manner of its delivery much resembles others of its 

 genus, the bird rising on the wing to the height of about 

 forty yards in an oblique direction, singing as it flies. After 

 the young birds are hatched, little more is heard of the song 

 of the parents, which is exchanged for the soft chirping notes 

 of tenderness and solicitude. The young birds soon stray 

 from the nest, even before they can fly, and are assiduously 

 attended by the parents ; they run nimbly upon the moss- 

 covered rocks, uttering a soft call-note, and on the appear- 

 ance of danger conceal themselves by sitting close to the 

 ground. The young birds, which are hatched about the 

 middle of July, are in the beginning of August fully fledged, 

 and begin with their parents to associate in flocks. In Sep- 

 tember they leave the country of their birth and travel south- 

 ward for the winter ; their migration is performed in small 

 straggling flocks. On leaving Labrador and the coasts of 

 Hudson's Bay, they spread over various parts of the United 

 States, from Maine as far south as Georgia. In the central 

 and southern portions of this vast continent the Shore-lark 

 passes the winter season, to recommence in spring its migra- 

 tion northward. In May it is again seen, according to Dr. 

 Richardson, on the shores of Hudson's Bay ; it proceeds, 

 says that gentleman, to the marshy and woody eastern dis- 

 tricts to breed, extending its range to the shores of the Arctic 

 Sea. Captain Ross also found solitary individuals of this 



