338 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Otocoris alpestris (Linn.) 



SHORE LABK. 



Popular sjnonTnu. 8no\v Lark; Snowblnl: Prairie Lark: Skylark; American Skylark ; 

 Horned Lark. 



Alauda o/pe»/ri« LlJJN. 8. N. ed. 10, 1, 1758. 16«. 

 Otocoris alpeslriit Bp. Fauna Ital. Uec. Introd. 1838 (not paged).— Henbbaw. Auk, 



July, 1884,217,263. 

 Eremophila alpeatrin Bora, Isis. 1828.322.— CouES, Key, lff72,89: Check Li«t.l874,No. St; 



2d Chock List. 1882, No. 82; 2d Key, 1884. 281 ( port ».— Kid ow. Nora. N. Am. B. 1881, 



No. 300 (part). 

 Eremophila alpenlrin var. alpeslrin B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. 11, 18T4, 143. 

 Eremophila alpestris a. alpestris Coueb. B. N. W. 1874, 37. 

 .Haiirfn roiiiH/a WiLS. Am. Orn. i.1808,87 (in text).— Sw. & Rich. F. B. -A. 11,1831,121. 

 .Prpniop/ii/n comuM BoiE, Isis, 1828, 322.— Baikd, B. N. Am. 18S8, 403; Cat. N. Am. B. 



1859. No. 302. 



This larger, darker colored foiTa of the Shore Lark is an irregu- 

 lar winter visitant, sometimes, however, occurring in large Hocks. 

 Its habits are identical with those of the resident race. 



Otocoris alpestris praticola (Hensh.) 



PRAIRIE LARK. 

 Popular synonTnu. (Same as those of alpestris proper.) 



Eremophila alpestris AucT.. ox-pnrto (iicr BoiE). 



Otocoris alpestris praticola Henshaw, .\uk. i. No. 3, July, 1884,364. 



Hab. Mi.ssissippi Volley and region of the Great Lakes, breeding, ond resident, cast 

 to western Now York. 



Sunsp. Chab. Adult male in sprino (No. 907G3. U. 8. Nat. Mus.. Richland Co., 111.. 

 May 16, 1883; R. Biderway): Posterior portion of crown, occiput, nape, sides of neck oml 

 breast, lessor winK-covorts.and shorter upper tail-oovorts,linht vinaceous; buck, scapu- 

 lars, and rump, grayish brown, the feothers with liarkcr centres, boconilnK darker and 

 much UKiro distinct on the rump; middle wiuK-covorts light vinai-oons torniiniilly, 

 brownish gray basally. Wings (except as described) grayish brown, the fi'athers with 

 paler edges; outer primary with outer wob chielly white. Middle pair of tail-fentln'rs 

 light brown (paler on edgesl.the central portion (longitudinally) much darker, approach- 

 ing dusky; remaining tail-feathers uniform black, the outi'r pair with ixtorior wob 

 broadly edged with white. Longer upper tail-covcrt.s light brown, edgeil with whitish 

 and marked with a broad lanceolate stri'ak of dusky. Forehead (for about .1.1 of an inch) 

 yellowish white, this continued back in a brojid supendliary stripe of nearly pure 

 white; fore part of crown (for about .35 of an inch) deep black, continued lati'rally back 

 to and including the ear-like tufts; lores, suborbital region, and broad patch on cheeks 

 (with convex posterior outline) deep black; jugular crescent also deep black, this extend- 

 ing to the lower jiart of throat: chin and throat i>alc straw-yellow, gradually failing into 

 white on sides ol foreneck ; anterior half of ear-coverts white, posterior half drab-gray, 

 each portion forming a crescent-shaped patch. Lower parts posterior to the jugular 

 crescent imre white, the sides of the breast light vinaceous, the sides similar but browner 

 and indistinctly streaked with darker. Upper mandible plumbeous black, lower bluish 

 plumbeous; iris deep brown; legsimdfcct brownish black. Wing, 4. 30; tail, 2. 85; culmen. 

 .47; tarsus,. 85. 



