weatlier these birds reach Virginia and Carolina. Mr. Bullock
found them on the table-land of Mexico; and Mr.
Gould, in his Birds of Europe, says that Captain King
brought specimens from the Straits of Magellan. I t is, therefore,
probable that this bird inhabits the colder portions of
the southern as well as the northern continent of America,
migrating in both instances towards the equator in winter.
Pursuing our bird in. North America, Dr. Richardson says,
that it “ arrives in the fur-countries along with the Lapland
Bunting, with which it associates, and being a shyer bird, is
the sentinel, and alarms the flock on the approach of danger.
It retires to the marshy and woody eastern districts to breed,
extending its range to the shores of the Arctic Sea. Mr.
Hutchins states that its nest is placed on the ground, and
that it lays four or five white eggs, spotted with black.” They
appear on the shores of Hudson’s Bay in May, and proceed
from thence still further north to breed. We are indebted to
Mr. Audubon for the best account of the habits of this bird
during summer, the most interesting period of its existence.
In one of those arduous voyages which this indefatigable
naturalist undertook to complete his Ornithological Biography
of North America, this bird was found on the shores of the
coasts of Labrador, and its various peculiarities are thus described.*
“ Although in the course of our previous rambles along the
coast of Labrador, and among the numberless islands that
guard its shores, I had already seen this Lark while breeding,
never before that day did I so much enjoy its song, and
never before I reached this singular spot, had I to add to my
pleasures that of finding its nest. Here I found the bird
in the full perfection of plumage and song, and here I had an
opportunity of studying its habits, which I will now endeavour
to describe.”
* Ornithological Biography, vol. ii. p. 570.
t{ The Shore Lark breeds on the high and desolate tracts
of Labrador, in the vicinity of the sea. The face of the
country appears as if formed of one undulated expanse of
granite, covered with mosses and lichens, varying in size and
colour, some green, others as white as snow, and others again
of every tint, and disposed in large patches or tufts. It is on
the latter that this Lark places her nest, which is disposed
with so much care, while the moss so resembles the bird in
hue, that unless you almost tread upon her as she sits, she
seems to feel secure, and remains unmoved. Should you,
however, approach so near, she flutters away, feigning lameness
so cunningly, that none but one accustomed to the sight
can refrain from pursuing her. The male immediately joins
her in mimic wretchedness, uttering a note so soft and plaintive,
that it requires a strong stimulus to force the naturalist
to rob the poor birds of their treasure.”
“ The nest around is imbedded in the moss to its edges,
which is composed of fine grasses, circularly disposed, and
forming a bed about two inches thick, with a lining of Grouse
feathers, and those of other birds. In the beginning of July
the* eggs are deposited. They are four or five in number,
large, greyish, and covered with numerous pale blue and
brown spots. The young leave the nest before they are able
to fly, and follow their parents over the moss, where they are
fed about a week. They run nimbly, emit a soft peep, and
squat closely at the first appearance of danger. If observed
and pursued, they open their wings to aid them m 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 pursue a bird.
The parents all this time are following the enemy overhead,
lamenting the danger to which their young are exposed. In
several instances, the old bird followed us almost to our boat,
alighting occasionally on a projecting crag before us, and