214 THE ALASKA HORNED LARK. 



ond in this respect. A monograph by Mr. H. C. Oberholser^ enumerates 

 twenty-three forms, of which seventeen are described as North American, and 

 four Mexican, beside one from Colombia (O. a. pcrcgrina) and another (O. a. 

 flava) from Eurasia. Of this number tlie majority occur west of the Missis- 

 sippi River, wliere chmatic conditions are more sliarply differentiated, and 

 where, especially in the Southwest, the situation allows of that permanent 

 residence which is conducive to the development of subspecific forms. 



The situation in Washington appears to be somewhat as follows: O. a. 

 strigata, strongly marked, but showing relationship U> iiicrrilli, and likeness to 

 iiisularis, of the Santa Barbara Islands, summers in western W'asliinglon in 

 open prairies, and at low altitudes only. In winter it retires southward, or 

 straggles irregularly eastward''. O. a. iiicrrilli is related to strigata on the one 

 hand, and to Iciicolccuia (the Desert Horned Lark) on the other, but it curi- 

 ously reproduces the appearance of praticola (being indistinguishable in 

 certain plumages ) ; and also bears close resemblance to giraiidi. a non-migrant 

 form of tlie Gulf sliore of Te.xas. It summers thruout eastern Washington, 

 and even (doubtfull}' ) occupies the western coast of British Columbia. An 

 isolated colony occurring on Mount Baker, above limljer-line. is referred b\' 

 Oberholser to this form, but I should prefer to call it an intergrade with 

 arcticola. In winter iiicrrilli retires completely from its Washington range, 

 and its place is taken by arcticola, sweeping down fmni the highlands of 

 British Columljia and Alaska in considerable numbers. 



It is not at all difficult for one who is accustomed to the appearance of 

 Iiicrrilli to recognize these newcomers when they appear, late in October, for 

 they are decidedly larger, more lightly colored, and show no slightest trace of 

 yellow. They are much given to wandering about in straggling flocks, and 

 the mild cries which the}- scatter freely ha\"e a subdued and plainti\-e tone, 

 borrowed, no doubt, from the chastened character of the season. x\ sitting 

 flock will sometimes allow a very close approach, but when they do so they 

 "freeze," so perfectly that the eye can scarcel}- find them. The only thing to 

 do under such circumstances is to freeze also, until the birds begin to limber 

 up and steal cautiously away, taking advantage, for concealment, of every 

 tuft of grass or depression of the ground, and giving occasional a<lmnnitory 

 yips to their fellows. 



a. A Review of the Larks of the Genus Otocoris. Proc. U. S. Nat'l Mus., Vol. XXIV., pp. 801-884, 

 1902- 



b. Much clearer testimony is required on this point. C>berliolser. op. cit., p. 839, cites a record for 

 Colton in Whitman County, but I have never seen this form in Yakima County: and it would seem 

 remarkaljle that a bird should forsake the mild climate of Tacoma to endure the more severe winters 

 and less certain food supply of the East-side. 



