Jones — On Birds of Cedar Point. 39 



tier bushes are more often iised than other bushes where they are 

 available. I have also found nests in rose bushes. 



130. Empidonax minimus. — Least Flycatcher. 



Usually common for a month in the spring, but scarce and irreg- 

 ular in the fall. I have uever noted more than half a dozen indi- 

 viduals in the fall. The median date of arrival is May 1, the earli- 

 est being April 11, 1903. A few individuals usually remain well to- 

 ward the end of May. Fall records are September 14 and 21, 1907. 

 and 23. 1908. It seem^ a little strange that the species should be 

 so well distributed over the region during the spring movement, but 

 practically fail to reach it during the fall migration. Tlie fly-line 

 must pass to the westward across Marblehead. While this fly- 

 catcher is here it is mostly confined to the brushy border of woods. 

 A few individuals wander into village parks and the shrubbery 

 about houses and vacant lots. On the sand spit it is confined to the 

 brushy fringe which borders the marsh side, rarely venturing over 

 toward the lake. I have one record for August 2, 1907, at the Lake 

 Laboratory. 



131. Otocoris alpestris. — Horned Lark. 



A regular winter visitor to the mainland and sand spit, but usu- 

 ally in small numbers as compared with praiicola. These birds ar- 

 rive with the first severe winter weather, and are usually gone north 

 by the opening of spring. One female was captured on April 8. 

 1895. which seemed to show indications of breeding. Winter flocks 

 of these Larks are almost always mixed in the proportion of 2 of 

 alpestris to 7 of praticola. Occasionally other field birds are found 

 with them, particularly the Lapland Longspur. It is not difficult 

 to distinguish this form from praticola in a good light by the dis- 

 tinctly yellow line over the eye. which, in praticola, is grayish white 

 without yellow. 



132. Otocoris alpestris praticola. — Prairie Horned Lark. 



A common resident on the mainland, occurring at other times 

 than the breeding season on the sand spit in its movements to and 

 from the north. None have been noted on any of the islands. These 

 are strictly field birds, preferring pastures to meadows and plowed 

 fields. Wliile feeding in the winter they may be found in any fields 

 which afford food. They make good use of freshly scattered barn- 

 yard manure, especially when the land is snow-bound. When such 

 feeding [)laces are scarce they gather in flocks numbering more than 

 2^ individuals. It is not easy to determine whether there is any 

 marked increase during the fall and winter months, because the 

 flocking habit in winter and the scattering of the paired birds dur- 



