Jan., igog. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 541 



Female: Slightly smaller and plumage slightly duller. In fall 

 plumage the black feathers on the breast are tipped with yellowish 

 white. 



Length, 6.80 to 7.50; wing, about 4.40; tail, 2.80; bill, .45. 



The Horned Lark may usually be distinguished from the prairie 

 form, 0. a. praticola, by its larger size, the yellow stripe over the eye, 

 and somewhat browner coloration. 



It occurs as a winter visitant in Illinois and Wisconsin, but can 

 not be considered common. Nelson states that " it arrives in large 

 numbers with the Longspurs in October and disperses over the prai- 

 ries"; but Mr. Woodruff considers it a rare winter visitant in north- 

 eastern Illinois, which agrees with my experience, as the Museum does 

 not possess a specimen of this species taken in the state. 



In Wisconsin Kumlien and Hollister state that it is " found on the 

 prairies during winter, ofttimes in considerable numbers." 



In a series of eastern specimens the wing measurements are as 

 follows : 



Males, wing (carpus to tip), 4.25 to 4.50 inches. 



Females, wnng (carpus to tip), 4.05 to 4.40 inches. 



216a. Otocoris alpestris praticola Hensh. 

 Prairie Horned Lark. 

 Distr. : Upper Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes region, 

 breeding eastward to New England, south in winter to South Carolina, 

 Texas, etc. 



' - • ' , A. 



"^ 



^ 



. /• 



■<5" 



Horned Lark. 



The Prairie Horned Lark differs from the eastern form, O. alpestris, 

 in having the line over the eye whitish (not yellow) , the throat but 

 faintly tinged with yellow and in being somewhat smaller and paler. 

 Wing, (carpus to tip) males, 4 to 4.25 inches; females, 3.75 to 4.20 

 inches. 



