270 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Middle tail feathers like the hack, the otliers hlack, the outer weh of the 

 outer pair whitish ; bill, blackish, livid blue at V)ase below ; feet, black. In 

 winter, at which season it is observed in Southern Ontaiio, the colors are 

 paler and much less decided. Length. 7 to T.oO. Female: — Smaller. 



Hab. — North-eastern North America, (Greenland and northern parts of the 

 Old World, in winter, south in the eastern United States to the Carolinas, 

 Illinois, etc. 



Nest, a slight depi-ession in tlie ground, lined with gra.ss, hoi\se-hair and 

 feathei's. 



Kggs, foui- oi' live, grayisii-w hite, nuirki'd witli .spots of brow nisli-purple. 



The 81i(»r(* Lark, wlieii I became acquainted with it twenty-five 

 years ago, was a rare winter visitor in Ontario, only a few l)eing 

 observed. They usually are found in company with the snowl)irds, 

 and are thoroughly terrestrial in their habits, seldom alighting any- 

 where but on the ground. While here they speiul most of their 

 time, during the short days of winter, searching for their daily fare 

 (»n bare, gravelly patches, from which the snow lias been blown away. 

 Occasionally, towarfl the end of .March, just before leaving, I have 

 seen the male settle himself on a hillock and warlile out a pleasing 

 lark-like song, which is probal)ly given with more ])ower and ])athos 

 later in the season neai- his grassy home, witli his mate for an 

 audience. 



This is the noi'th-ea.stern type of the family, and it is believed to 

 l)e identical with the Briti.sh birfl of the same name. In Ontario it 

 is as i-are as formerly, its breeding place being far tn tlie nortli and 

 east, and its migratory course generally along the coast of tlie Atlantic. 

 It bi'eeds al)undantly in the region around Hudson liay, inchuhng 

 Labrador, and has also lieen found in Greenland. In the .south and 

 west it is represented by several varieties, differing somewhat in size 

 and markings. 



The present si)ecies. though rather irregular in its movenuMits, is 

 often very abundant along the shores of the eastern States. It 

 breeds in Ntnvfomidland, and some are su|)posed to spend the stnnmer 

 in Maine, but the bulk of the species go farther north. 



OToCOlilS ALPESTinS PKATK'OLA Hi.nsii. 

 ]!•."). Prairie Horned Lark. (17IA) 



Ailiill iiiii.h : In spring, [lo.sterioi- portion of tlie rrnwn, (n'cipul, nape, 

 aides of the neck and breast, lesser wing coverts and sliorter up|)er tail coverts, 

 light vinaceous ; back, scapulai'.'? and i-unip. grayishbrown ; the feathers with 

 darker centres, bcconiing daikei anil much more distinet mi tlic r\ini]) : ini<ldle 



