PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 423 



aud around meadows. It is more abundant in the valleys in winter 

 than in summer. 



Once, having: sliot a Quail which fluttered violently, one of these birds 

 l^ouuced upon it and began to tear it. 



73829 — ad. 

 76598 — juv. 



^Marysville rd). — , 1878 



Big Trees July — , 1878 



98. Perisoreus canadensis (y. obscurus, Ridgw. ?).* — Oregon Gray Jai/. 



On October 7, I saw at Summit Meadows what I supposed to be this 

 bird. It is said to breed in the high parks of Castle Peak, a few miles 

 north of the Summit Meadows. 



Family ALAUDID^ : The True Larks, 



99. Eremophila alpestris, (Forst.). — Horned Lark. 



The Horned Lark was common at Marysville in the winter of 1877-78, 

 in flocks of not more than twenty-five or thirty, generally less. A small 

 flock was seen at Summit Meadows in the fall of 1877. 



Marysville 



....:do 



Sximmit Meadows 



Feb. — 1878 

 Fob. — 1878 

 Oct. 0, 1877 



*99rt. Eremophila alpestris, ,3. chrysolcema, (Wagl.). — Southern Ilorucd Lark. 



This form of tlie Horned Lark is an abundant resident at Marysville, 

 in summer frequentmg the dry plains, especially those near the low, 

 rolling hills on the eastern margin of the valley, where the growth of 

 vegetation is meagre. In December, 1878, it was abundant on the low, 

 rolling Jiills east of Stockton, on the road to Copi)eropolis. 



The difference in appearance between a flock of these while on a 

 field of short, green grass in bright sunshine, and that of a flock of the 

 northern variety is so great that any collector could not fail to observe it.t 



*Marysyille ; Feb. — , 



'Calaveras County (at Milton) . . j Spring, 



do I Spring, 



Marysville ; Feb. — . 



do 

 -do 

 -do 



.do 

 -do 



Feb. 

 Feb. — , 

 Feb. — 



Feb. — . 

 Feb. — , 



1878 

 1877 

 1877 

 1878 

 1878 

 1878 

 1878 

 1878 

 1878 



* It is somewhat uncertain whether the birds alluded to above arc of the Oregon 

 form (oiacurus) or the Rocky Mountain race (/3. capitalis, Baird). .Judging from an- 

 alogy, however, in the cases of Cyanocitta aud Jj)lielo(:oma, tlicy should be Ihe fonuer, 

 a probability strengthened by the fact that Mr. Ileushaw obtained spcoimcns of oh- 

 scurus at Camp Bidwell, in the northern Sierra Nevada. — R. R. 



tThe line series of this very strongly marked race, sent liy Mr. Belding, shows 

 unusual uniformity of characters for birds of this genus, there being little variation 

 among individuals. The light i)inl<isli gray tints of the more northern and eastern 

 forms {alpestris and leucolcema) are re])]ai'ed by a very deep cinnamtui color, cr rusty 

 brown, while the size is decidedly smaller. They agree quite closely with Mexican 

 examples, as described in History of Aortlt American Birds (vol. ii, p. 144). — R. R. 



