FAMILY XIY. 
PAS SERIN! , Illiger. 
GENUS XXX. — ALA UDA, Linnjsus. 
153 . ALAUDA ALPESTEIS , LINNAEUS AND WILSON. 
SHORE LARK. 
WILSON, PLATE V. FIG. IV. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This is the most beautiful of its genus, at least in 
this part of the world. It is one of our winter birds of 
passage, arriving from the north in the fall ; usually 
staying with us the whole winter, frequenting sandy 
plains and open downs, and is numerous in the southern 
States, as far as Georgia, during that season. They 
fly high, in loose scattered flocks ; and at these times 
have a single cry, almost exactly like the sky lark of 
Britain. They are very numerous in many tracts of 
New Jersey ; and are frequently brought to Philadel- 
phia market. They are then generally very fat, and 
are considered excellent eating. Their food seems 
principally to consist of small round compressed black 
seeds, buckwheat, oats, &c. with a large proportion of 
gravel. On the flat commons, within the boundaries 
of the city of Philadelphia, flocks of them are regularly 
seen during the whole winter. In the stomach of these, 
1 have found, in numerous instances, quantities of the 
eggs or larvae of certain insects, mixed with a kind of 
slimy earth. About the middle of March they gene- 
rally disappear, on their route to the north. Forster 
informs us, that they visit the environs of Albany fort, 
in the beginning of May ; but go farther north to breed ; 
that they feed on grass seeds, and buds of the sprig 
birch, and run into small holes, keeping close to the 
ground ; from whence the natives call them chi-chup ~ 
