212 THE ALASKA HORNED LARK. 



sensitive upon the subject of metes and bounds. As for the insect world he 

 rules it with a rod of iron. See him as he moves about thru a file of slender 

 poplars. He flits restlessly from branch to branch, now peering up at the 

 under surface of a leaf, now darting into the air to secure a heedless midge, 

 and closing upon it with an emphatic snap, now spreading the tail in pardon- 

 able vanity or from sheer exuberance of spirits ; but ever and anon pausing 

 just long enough to squeeze out a half-scolding song. The paler-colored 

 female, contrary to the visual wont, is not less active nor less noticeable than 

 the male, except as she is restrained for a season by the duties of incubation. 

 She is even believed to sing a little on her own account, not because her mate 

 does not sing enough for two, but because she — well, for the same reason that 

 a wiiman whistles, — and good luck to her ! 



During the mating season great rivalries spring up, and males will chase 

 each other about in most bewildering mazes, like a pair of great fire-flies, 

 and with no better weapons — fighting fire with fire. When the nesting site 

 is chosen the male is very jealous of intruders, and bustles up in a threatening 

 fashion, which cjuite overawes most birds of guileless intent. 



Redstart's song is sometimes little lietter than an emi^hatescent squeak. 

 At other times his emotion fades after the utterance of two or three notes, and 

 the last one dies out. A more pretentious effort is represented by Mr. Chap- 

 man as "Cliiiir/. chilli/, dice; scr-7(.'Ct\ sivcc, swce-c-c-e." Many variations 

 from tliese U'pes may be noted, and I once mistook the attem]it of a colorless 

 young stripling of one summer for that of a Pileolated W^arliler. 



Our Redstart shares with the Yellow Warbler alone the distinction of 

 representing among us /;; if>sa specie the Warbler hosts of the East. Even so, 

 our scanty summer population of Redstarts, confined as it is to the northeast- 

 ern counties, appears to rejjresent an ii\'erll()W of the eastern hordes, or, per- 

 haps, the van of occupation, rather than regularly established citizens. I have 

 seen them as far south as Brook Lake, and as far west as Stehekin only: but 

 Mr. Allan Brooks records a specimen from Chilliwhack, in western British 

 Columbia. 



No. 87. 



ALASKA HORNED LARK. 



A. O. U. No. 474 a. Otocoris alpestris arcticola Oberliolser. 

 Synonyms. — Arctic Hornkd L.\rk. Pallid Horned L.\rk. Winter 



L.XRK. 



[Description of type form, Otocoris alpestris. — Adult male in breediiir/ 

 plumage: A narrow patch across fore-crown with ends curving laterally back- 



