ALA UDID.E : LA RKS. 



506 



therefore despair if many or most of his specimens are equivocal. The peculiarities of the 

 several races are developed only in their respective breeding ranges, and the extensive wander- 

 ings of the birds mix them up during the migrations, so that ditterent races may be found 

 together in the same locality, and only one of them be that bred in that locality. Hence the 

 impossibility of identifying specimens which do not typically represent adult males in breeding 

 dress taken within the area of their breeding range. The following attempt to discriminate 

 them is based on DwiGirr, Auk, Apr. 1890, p. 156. 



Analysis oj Subspecies (cf in full plumage). 

 Back grayish or brow-nisli. 

 Coloration pale ; nape, rump, and bend of wing pinkish. 



No yellow anywhere ; wing 4.40. Bred in interior of Brit. Am., westerly, and Alaska leucolcema 



Yellow on throat. 

 Back dark ; eyebrows white ; wing 4.10. Bred chiefly in the U. S, Dakota to New England .... praticola 



Back pale ; wing 4.10. Bred chiefly in tlie U. S., Great Plains and Great Basin nrenicola 



Back " very pallid " ; wing 3.75. Bred in Lower California and Sonora pallida 



Back light gray ; wing 3.85. Bred in E. and S. E. Texas giraudi 



Coloration dark ; nape, rump, and bend of wing reddish. 

 Browner, less streaked, eyebrows and throat always yellow; wing 4.30. Bred in Brit. Am., easterly, Greenland, 



Europe alpestris (typica .') 



Darker, more streaked, eyebrows and throat sometimes white. 



Back blacker, nape paler ; wing 4.00. Bred in interior of Oregon, Wash, Brit Col merriUi 



Back "yellower, greenish tinged," nape darker; wing 3.90. Bred on coast of Oregon, Wash., Brit. Col. sirigata 

 Back reddish. 

 Color of nape in marked contrast with back; wing 3.90. Bred on coast of Gala, and in Mexico .... c/irysolceina 

 Color of nape merging in that of back. 



General appearance rich rufous ; wing 3.90. Bred in Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, Gala rubea 



General appearance " pallid and scorched ;" wing 4.05. Bred in W. Tex., New Mex., and S. Ariz. . . . (uiusla 



O. alpes'tris. (Lat. alpestris, alpine. Figs. 339, 340.) Horned Lark. Shore Lark. 

 Adult ^ 9) '" breeding plumage: Upi)er parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or 

 vinaceous or lilaceous tint brightest nu nape, lesser wing-coverts, and tail-ci. verts ; rest of 



Fig. 3.30. — Shore Lark, mud 

 jfter Baird.) 



Fig 340. — Shore Lark, nat. 

 nat. del. E. C.) 



upper parts duller and umre grayisli-bn.wn, boldly variegated with dark ])rown streaks; 

 middle pair of tail-feathers and several iimer secondaries rufous-brown, with darker centres. 

 Under parts, from breast backward, white ; sides strongly washed witli color of upper parts, 

 and mottling of same across lower part of ])reast. A large, distinct, shield-shaped black area 

 on breast. Tail-feathers, except middle pair, black; outermost edged with wliiiish. Wing- 

 quills, except innermost, plain fuscous; outer web of 1st primary whitisii. Lesser wing- 

 coverts usually tipped with grayish-white. Top of head like nape ; bar across front of vertex, 

 thence extended along sides of crown, and produced into a tuft or " horn." Mack ; front and line 

 over eye, aho somewhat produced to form part of the tuft, sulphur-yei 



: a bro;ul bar 



