LARK. 
A LAUD A ARFENSIS. 
There are parts of the British Islands in which the Lark is not a resident; immense flocks also 
arrive in this country during autumn from the north of Europe. On almost every occasion when meetum- 
them at sea, I remarked that they flew in compact bodies of several hundreds, seldom showing signs of 
fatigue, though a few now and then fell out from the ranks and, after hovering for a short time round 
the steamboat, at length settled on board; then, creeping into the first quiet corner, they puffed out their 
feathers and speedily dropped off to sleep. 
During the years I was in correspondence with the light-ships off the east coast Larks were by 
far the most numerous of the birds taken on board the vessels * ; Starlings were next ; and from the 
crews I learned that Wheatears, in certain states of weather, proved frequent victims— none, however 
were captured during the autumn of 1S72 or the following spring. 
While steaming in company with the herring-fleet in the North Sea during the autumn of 1872, I 
fell in with Larks in large numbers, flying direct for the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts, almost daily from 
the 7th of October to the 9th of November. At the same time that these birds are making their way 
m such swarms across the North Sea, they arc also landing on the shores of the Channel or passing 
along the coast. My notes for 1882 and the following year contain frequent references to the movements 
of this species along the south coast, between Shoreham and Lancing, as well as the occasional landing of 
large bodies. The course followed by these birds during autumn is decidedly uncertain ; one day the whole 
of the flocks proceed west, and on the next the direction is probably reversed. On the approach of winter 
storms, and during the continuation of severe weather, they invariably make their way towards the west. 
“ 1882, September 28. Wind south. Larks continued flying west during the greater part of the day. 
“October 2. Strong wind, west-south-west. Larks in considerable numbers flying east before the 
strong wind. 
Wind changeable, west and north-west. 
“ October 3. 
towards the west. 
“October 10. 
“October 13. 
“October 20. 
Larks in large flocks 
making 
their 
way 
Wind south-east ; weather fine. The whole of the Larks flying east. 
Wind north-east. Larks flying east. 
Light wind from the south ; after midday the wind freshened from the south-west. 
Larks flying west. On this day the whole of the Pipits moved east. 
“December 9. Wind north-east, cold, and snow three inches deep. After 9 a.m. wind shifted north- 
west, when Larks commenced flying west in immense numbers.” 
* It is recorded that during foggy weather in autumn, many years ago, at least one thousand small birds, mostly Larks, were captured one 
night on hoard the ‘Newarp.’ Several of the crew having been at once set to work, six hundred of the slain were stripped of their feathers, and 
an immense sea-pie, a three-decker (three tiers of birds with an intervening layer of crust between), was built up and proved a great success. 
