I'KAIRIK HORNED LARK. 271 



wing coverts, liglit viuaceous toniiinally, hi'owiiish-giay hasally : wings (except 

 as described), grayish-Urovvii, the feathers with palei' edges, outer primaries 

 with outer web chieHy white ; nii(hlle pair of tail feathers light brown (paler on 

 edges), the general portion (longitudinally) much darker, approaching dusky ; 

 remaining tail feathers uniform black, the outer pair with cxtei-ior webs 

 broadly edged with white ; longer upper tail coverts, light brown, edged with 

 whitish and marked with a broad lanceolate streak of dusky : forehead (for 

 about .15 of an inch) yellowish -white, this continued back in a broad super- 

 ciliary sti'ipe of nearly piu-e M'hite; fore pai't of ci'own (for about .35 of an inch) 

 deep black, continued laterally back to and including the ear-like tufts ; lores, 

 suborbital region, and broad j)atch on cheeks (with convex ])osterior outline) 

 deep l)lack, jugular crescent, also deep black, this extending to lower part of 

 throat ; chin and throat, pale straw yellow, gradually fading into wiiitc on 

 *ides of fore-neck ; anterior half of ear coverts white, posterior half drab-gray, 

 each portion forming a crescent-shaped patch ; lo-wer parts posterior to the 

 jugulum crescent pure Avhite, the sides of the breast light vinaceous, the sides 

 similar but brown and indistinctly streaked with daiker ; upper mandible, 

 plumbeous black ; lower, bluish-plumbeous : iris, deep brown ; legs and feet, 

 brownish-black. Size, slightly less than the preceding. 



Hab. — Upper Mississippi Valley and the region of the (ireat Lakes. 



Nest, a hollow in the ground, lined with gi-ass, horse hair and feathers. 



Eggs, four or five, dull olive, marked with spots and speckles of drab. 



8o far as 1 can remember, this species first appeared in Ontario 

 about the year 1868. It was noticed at once as different from our 

 winter visitor, being less in size and its plumage having the washed- 

 out look peculiar to the prairie liirds. Since that time it has 

 increased annually, until it has become quite established. T think 

 they do not all leave in the fall, but that a few remain over the 

 winter. Great numbers appear in Febi-uary or early in March, and 

 ••should the season l)e late, they swarm in the road tracks and bare 

 places ever3'where, waiting for the disappearing of the snow, and 

 even before it is quite gone many pairs commence building their 

 nests. Soon the flocks separate, the birds scatter in pairs over the 

 country, and are not again seen in such nimibers until the following 

 season. This species is very common in Manitoba, where they raise 

 their young in suitable places all over the country. 



Besides the original aJpestrix there ai-e now seven different sub- 

 species of the (xenus Otororix, described as being found in North 

 America. They all have a strong family likeness, but differ suffi- 

 ciently, in the eyes of the Committee, to warrant rlistinction, thougli 

 several of the groups are of very recent formation. Tliev are found 

 mostly in the west and south-west, only one of tlx- xarieties having, 

 till now, l)een observed in <^ntai-io. 



