132 The WilsoxN Bulletin— No. 100 



also frequently heard it delivered from a mound or other 

 elevation on the ground. 



Our earliest spring- migrant, the Prairie Horned Lark, is 

 also the most regular of the earlier birds, not excepting the 

 Crow. A few Crows occasionally winter, but the Lark never, 

 as far as I am aware. 



Although the Prairie Horned Lark returns with the south 

 wind it does not necessarily proclaim the passage of winter, 

 as sometimes a month of wintry weather follow^s its return. 

 However its tinkling song imbues us with at least a portion 

 of its hopeful anticipation, and helps to tide over the bleak 

 spots. 



During fifteen years the average time of arrival at Mon- 

 treal, by my records, w^as March 1st (February 29th for 

 leap years): extreme dates were February 14 (1915) and 

 March 9 (1905). This refers to the male bird, which ar- 

 rives a week or more in advance of the female. 



When in flight, with each sweeping undulation, or, as is 

 often the case, at irregular intervals, the Lark emits a single 

 whistled note, very similar to the first part of the Snowbird's 

 flight notes, sometimes followed by a second note. To me 

 these notes seem best expressed by the syllables " pee " and 

 " Pee-u." While choosing a nesting site and during early 

 nesting operations its vocal activity is especially marked. 

 At this time they are often found in companies of three — 

 two males courting one female. They do not seem to be 

 very quarrelsome beyond chasing one another back and forth, 

 but give vent to their feelings vocally. One of the most com- 

 mon utterances sounds something like " seet-te-sweet " or 

 " seet-t'seet," with variations. Another musical call " pee- 

 u-wee," or " pee," followed after a pause by " pee-u-wee " 

 (with the accent on the last syllable), has a decided plover- 

 like quality and is the principal note of alarm. This call is 

 seldom or never uttered before nesting is well under way, 

 and is often shortened to a whistled " pee-u," especially after 

 the young are hatched. 



During the period of incubation the Larks become more 



