153 S H O R E LARK.
I n this y e a r also, more s p e c i m e n s were c a p t u r e d by some boys in
s p r i n g e s near St. A n d r e w s , a n d a flock was seen at the same place
a few days a f t e r w a r d s ; o t h e r s in E a s t L o t h i a n , of t h e s e I h a v e h ad
i n f o r m a t i o n from R o b e r t G r a y , E s q . , of G l a s g o w ; five or six, of w h i ch
F. M. B a l f o u r , E s q . , h a s scut me w o r d , w e r e seen at R a v e n s h e u g h , n e ar
T y n e m o u t h , J a n u a r y 2 8 t h . , 1870. A flock of a b o u t a s c o r e is r e c o r d ed
in Mr. S t e v e n s o n ' s ' B i r d s of N o r f o l k .'
I n s e v e r e w e a t h e r these b i r d s move t o w a r d s t h e ' w a r m e r climates
of t h e s o u t h or t h e n o r t h , a c c o r d i n g as t h e y h a v e b e e n l o c a l i z e d on
t h i s or that side of t h e e q u a t o r . They m o v e t h u s in the b e g i n n i n g of
S e p t e m b e r , a n d i n M a r c h , in the l a t t e r m o n t h to, a n d in the former
from, the colder r e g i o n s , h a v i n g b e g u n to collect t o g e t h e r from the
b e g i n n i n g of A u g u s t , Hying i n s t r a g g l i n g n u m b e r s , h a r d l y to b e called
n o c k s , a n d at b u t a l o w e l e v a t i o n above t h e w a t e r , h a v i n g p r e v i o u s ly
c o l l e c t e d t o g e t h e r in small p a r t i e s of forty or fifty, the m e m b e r s of
different families. In the b e g i n n i n g of J u n e t h e y a g a i n r e t r a c e their
s t e p s , or r a t h e r their flight, to t h e i r native land, the i n h o s p i t a b le
c l i m e s of t h e frozen n o r t h ; few, h o w e v e r , w a n d e r to the v e r y e x t r e m e st
p o l a r r e g i o n s . Some r e m a i n s t a t i o n a r y t h r o u g h o u t the year.
T h e y f r e q u e n t s a n d y p l a c e s a n d open d o w n s , a n d a s s o c i a t e w i t h o t h er
L a r k s .
T h e S h o r e L a r k is r a t h e r shy i n its h a b i t s , but when e n g a g e d w i th
i t s y o u n g sits v e r y close, c i t h e r t h r o u g h a t e m p o r a r y c h a n g e of disp
o s i t i o n or f r om a n x i e t y for its b r o o d , as if c o n s c i o u s of t h e p r o t e c t i on
w h i c h n a t u r e has afforded to it in the a s s i m i l a t i o n of the colour of
it-- p l u m a g e to t h a t of the scanty v e r d u r e alone to be found where
it has its d w e l l i n g . Should, h o w e v e r , d a n g e r seem to a p p r o a c h too
c l o s e l y , t h e a n x i o u s m o t h e r flutters away from any c h a n c e i n t r u d e r,
f e i g n i n g l a m e n e s s so c u n n i n g l y that n o n e b i d one a c c u s t o m e d to the
s i g h t could r e f r a i n from p u r s u i t . Her p a r t n e r i m m e d i a t e l y j o i n s her
i n mimic w r e t c h e d n e s s , u t t e r i n g a soft and p l a i n t i v e n o t e . They often
fly at a c o n s i d e r a b l e h e i g h t . It w o u l d apj>ear that these b i r d s may
be kept in c o n f i n e m e n t . They are r e c k o n e d v e r y g o o d e a t i n g.
I t s food consists of the b u d s , b l o s s o m s , a n d seeds of g r a s s and the
s t u n t e d v e g e t a t i o n of t h e A r c t i c r e g i o n s , a n d such i n s e c t s as m a y t h e re
b e also f o u n d : other seeds also, a n d g r a i n , w h e r e it is to be met w i t h,
b u c k w h e a t , oats, a n d so forth, as well as c a t e r p i l l a r s , are likewise
t a k e n , a g o o d deal of g r a v e l b e i n g s w a l l o w e d w i t h t h e m . Flies it
e x p e r t l y chases on the wing, a n d at times b e t a k e s itself to the seas
h o r e , to s e a r c h for m i n u t e shell-fish or Crustacea.
T h e male b i r d sings sweetly while on the w i n g , a l t h o u g h its song
is c o m p a r a t i v e l y s h o r t . It rises from the moss, or the bare r o c k , in
MIOKE LARK. 1 53
a short oblique flight of a few yards, begins and ends its madrigal,
performs a few irregular evolutions, and returns to the ground. There
also it sings, but less frequently, and with less fullness. It has at
times a ventriloquistic power, which makes its note seem like that of
another species. There is also an ordinary single note. "When the
young are hatched, the music for the most part ceases—the 'cares
of a family' arc felt by the feathered as well as by the human species.
'There is a time for all things,' says the wise man; ' a time to weep,
and a time to laugh.'
In the desolate and sterile tracts which extend in high latitudes
from the sca-shore to regions, if possible, still more savagely wild and
barren, the whole face of the country is described as one boundless
succession of hoary granite rock, covered with mosses and lichens,
varying in size and hue—some green, others as white as snow, and
others of divers colours of every lint, and growing in large tufts and
patches. Here the Shore Lark builds, and rears her young.
The nest, which is about two inches thick, and composed of fine
grasses, circularly disposed, and lined with feathers, exactly resembles
in colour the lichens and moss in which it is embedded, and is placed
on the ground, in the lonely regions where moss is almost the only
vegetation.
The eggs are four or five in number, greyish white, spotted with
pale blue and brown spots. They arc laid in the beginning of July.
The young, savs Mr. Audubon, which arc hatched about the middle
of July, and fully Hedged by the 1st. of August, Leave the nest before
they are able to fly, and follow their parents over the moss, in which
they drop and endeavour to conceal themselves on the appearance of
any danger. They run nimbly, and are fed for about a week. If
observed and pursued, the same author further relates that they utter
a soft " peep/ open their wings to aid them in their escape, and
separating, make off with great celerity. On such occasions it is
difficult to secure more than one of them, unless several persons be
present, when each can overtake a bird. The parents all this time
are following the enemy overhead, lamenting the danger to which
their young are exposed.
Male; length, about, or nearly, seven inches to seven and a
quarter or seven and a half; bill, bluish horn-colour, greyish black, or
almost black at the tip: a black streak passes from its base to the
eye, and spreads out over and behind it; these feathers edged with
light reddish brown. Iris, dark brown, over it, beneath the black,
is a yellow streak, afterwards paler or white; some bristly feathers
cover the nostrils; eyelids, yellow. Forehead, yellow, afterwards white,
VOL. II. X