2 
SHORE-LARK. 
flock along the shore near Benacre Sluice in Suffolk ; from their disinclination to rise and quit the beach, it 
is probable they had only recently made the land. Shortly before dusk the same evening, while steaming 
along the coast inside the Newcome Sands, I noticed a straggling party of a score or so of small and weary 
travellers fly past the vessel and disappear in the haze. One poor bird, worn out by its journey, hovered across 
the deck for a moment and attempted to alight on the paddlebox ; here it was unable to gain footing and 
fluttered helplessly down to the water. The main flock, as far as I could judge, was composed of Sky-Larks; 
but the unfortunate wayfarer who had failed to board us was a Shore-Lark. 
During severe weather in Sussex I often remarked a fresh-captured bird or two of this species in 
the store-cages of the professional bird-catchers when meeting with them along the downs near the coast. But 
one small flock of three or four individuals has (with the exception of the above-mentioned captives) come 
under my notice in this county ; these birds were on the shingle-banks between Shorekam and Lancing. 
According to my own observations the Shore-Larks are regular winter visitors to several portions of the 
east coast from Hunstanton to Lowestoft ; hut it is only occasionally that they show themselves in the 
southern counties. The seeds of the various grasses and plants growing on the rough banks and uncultivated 
ground they frequent are doubtless the main food of this species. From closely watching their actions I should 
also judge that small insects were taken; in that case their prey is so minute as to escape the observation of the 
naked eye, and a post mortem examination would be needed to establish the fact. 
