130 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 100 



HORNED LARKS IN THE PROVINCE OE QUEBEC 



{Otocoris alpestris pratlcola.) 



By L. McI. Terrill. 



Towards the close of the long Canadian winter, the earliest 

 signs of returning spring are very welcome, and none more 

 so than that first small harbinger, the Prairie Horned Lark 

 (Otocoris alpestris praiicola). There comes a time during 

 the latter part of February when the south wind and sun 

 combine in softening the atmosphere. Should you attempt 

 to look the sun in the face on such a day you will probably 

 see spots or sun-dogs. The snow, too, is affected ; it has a 

 honey-combed appearance and dark patches point to fast- 

 appearing soil. Railroad tracks, hillocks, and manure-piles 

 in the open country are quite bare of snow and steaming with 

 evaporating moisture. On such a day I fully expect to see 

 the Prairie Horned Lark. They are easily recognized : some- 

 times a dark form will he seen walking or running gracefully 

 over the snow, stopping to investigate places where the earth 

 is showing; again a small company will be found sheltered 

 in the lee of a manure-heap, particularly if the wind is high. 

 Roadways, and especially railway tracks, are favourite feed- 

 ing resorts. 



The males arrive first and show little inclination towards 

 flocking, often being seen singly, though sometimes in groups 

 of from two to ten birds, especially when feeding on railway 

 tracks or other places where grain and seeds are abundant. 

 Frequently a sweet liquid song, delivered from some mound 

 or fence-post, will be the first intimation of their arrival — the 

 first spring song, and doubly sweet for that reason. If the 

 weather is fine they usually sing on arrival, or soon after, 

 and the song is more or less commonly heard throughout 

 their residence here. This song is a difficult one to describe. 

 One associates the name " lark " with all that is sweet and 

 melodious, and although my acquaintance with the European 

 Skylark is not first hand, its family name, from laudo (to 



