296 SINGING BIRDS. 



the whole company in advertising them of the approach of 

 danger. They soon after retire to the marshy and woody dis- 

 tricts to breed, extending their summer range to the Arctic Sea. 

 They are said to sing well, rising into the air and warbling as 

 they ascend, in the manner of the Skylark of Europe. '■ The 

 male," says Audubon, like the Common Lark, " soars into the 

 air, sings with cheerfulness over the resort of his mate, and 

 roosts beside her and his nest on the ground, having at this 

 season a very remarkable appearance in the development of 

 the black and horn- like egrets." 



Happy Nuttall, to have died before "variety making' came into 

 fashion ! Vcui had but one form of Horned Lark to deal with, 

 while I am confronted witli eleven. Fortunately a large number of 

 these sub-species have never taken it into their horned heads to 

 cross into the territory under present consideration, so I am saved 

 from puzzling myself and my readers with their diagnosis. 



The true alpestris is found during summer in the region be- 

 tween the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Greenland west to Hudson 

 Bay, and in winter south to about latitude 35°. It is quite common 

 along the New England shores while migrating and in winter. 



The Prairie Horned Lark (O. alpestris praticola) is a smaller 

 bird with very gray back ; line over eyes white ; c\\\x\. pale yellow. 



This race is found in summer along the upper Mississippi valley 

 and (jreat Lake region, eastward sparingly to Montreal, Vermont, 

 and Long Island. It is resident over the greater portion of its 

 range, but some few winter south to the Carolinas and Texas. 



