234 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



fields. It occurs in small or large flocks, sometimes to the number of two 

 hundred. It is found alone or associated with Snow Buntings and occasionally 

 with Longspurs. 



The Horned Lark is a swift walker, and, considering its short legs, takes 

 long strides. It picks at the grass-stalks from the ground, never alighting on 

 them as do the Snow Buntings and Longspurs. It sometimes flies up from the 

 ground, seizing the seeds on the tall grass or weed-stalks, at the same time 

 shaking many off onto the ground, which it picks up before flying up to repeat 

 the process. Horned Larks are frequently found in roads picking at the horse- 

 droppings, especially when much snow has covered the grasses and weeds. 

 They also come into the farm-yards for scraps of food. 



Although a ground bird, the Horned Lark occasionally alights on the 

 extended roots of old tree stumps two or three feet from the ground and on 

 stone walls. I have never seen it in trees. It is a persistent fighter or 

 extremely playful, whichever you will, and is constantly engaged in chasing its 

 fellows. I have seen two face each other for a moment, with heads down like 

 fighting cocks, the next instant twisting and turning in the air, one in hot pur- 

 suit of the other. When in flocks with the other winter birds, they more 

 frequently chase them, especially the smaller Longspurs. I have also seen them 

 chase Snow Buntings, and often Ipswich Sparrows that were feeding with them, 

 and once, what appeared to be a Prairie Horned Lark. 



Horned Larks fly in scattered flocks with an undulating motion. Their 

 flight is often at a considerable height from the ground, and their call notes 

 appear to come from out of the depths of the sky. These notes may be written 

 tssswee it, tsswt, the sibilant being marked. At times the notes are almost 

 trilled. They are emitted as the birds fly and occasionally from the ground. 



The Horned Lark is easily distinguished by its markings and color from 

 the white Snow Bunting, and by its large size from the Longspur and the Pipit 

 also. It is more apt to be confused with the Pipit owing to the similarity of 

 their notes, but a good view serves to distinguish them. The notes of the Lark 

 are longer and more sibilant than those of the Pipit. Larks are decidedly larger, 

 and have broader shoulders than Pipits, and the black patches below the eyes 

 and on their breasts are distinctive. The white in the tail of the Pipit is much 

 more noticeable than in the Horned Lark, and the wagging tail of the former is 

 characteristic. As the birds fly overhead the black tail with white corners of 

 the Horned Lark contrasts sharply with the white belly. 



