180 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



Description. Dusky brown above, streaked with lighter on the edges. Shoulders, flanks 

 and thighs light reddish brown or vinaceous. Rump reddish. Tip of the yellow egret, and 

 a few feathers on the crown, black. Frontlet, throat and neck yellow. Breast below the 

 black crescent, spotted with black. All the tail-feathers, except the central pair, black. 

 Female : Head plain brown, streaked with blackish ; little or no black over the eye ; breast 

 reddish brown. 



The Horned Lark is a northern species, which appears in this State in October, and is 

 seen during the coldest weather. On the great plains of Suffolk and Queens, they are 

 numerous at that time in flocks of twenty to thirty, and quite tame. It spreads farther south 

 and west, having been observed by Kirtland in Ohio during the whole winter. It has been 

 also seen in Texas. Its nest is placed on the ground, with olive white eggs sprinkled with 

 minute darker spots. It has hitherto been confounded with the Alauda alpestris of Europe, 

 from which it was first specifically and generically separated by Brehm, under the name of 

 Phileremos cornutus. It was, however, first indicated as distinct by Richardson. Feeds on 

 insects and grass-seeds, according to the season. It returns to the north in March. Ranges 

 from 68° north to Texas. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



A, rufa, Lath. Tail-feathers uniform blackish: throat pale yellow. Length, 5*5. Texas. 



A. minor. (Giraud, B. of Texas, plate.) Crown black; occiput and hind neck reddish brown : a 



broad line of black from base of the mandibles, passing down the sides of the neck. Throat light 



yellow, with a broad black patch on the lower neck. Tail dark brown; two middle tail-feathers 



lighter. Length, 5*4. Texas. 

 A. spraguei. (Aud. B. of Am. Vol. 7, p. 334, pi. 486.) Light reddish brown above, streaked with 



blackish brown. Beneath yellowish, streaked with black on the sides. No erectile feathers on the 



head. Length, 6 • 0. Upper Missouri. 



