Horned Larks in the Province of Quebec 



139 



that one is detracted by the many other birds with more pro- 

 nounced songs and actions. From the latter part of August, 

 throughout the fall months, it is more gregarious — family 

 groups collecting into small flocks. This is especially notice- 

 able on river shores, where they gather to feed, often in com- 

 pany with various species of sandpiper and plover, and later 

 in the season with Pipits, Horned Larks (alpestris), and 

 Snowbirds ; hence the common appellation " shore-lark.'' 

 Flocks are seldom very large — more often from twenty to 

 fifty birds — and are not compact as flocks, say, of the Euro- 

 pean Sparrow, which arise in a cloud ; whereas, the Larks, 

 with a startled whistle, keep bounding up just ahead of you, 

 and a company of fifty will sometimes occupy several acres. 

 The Prairie Horned Lark evidently finds the fall weather 

 agreeable, as it sings more commonly after the extreme heat 

 of summer is passed. Towards the end of October migra- 

 tion is at its height, and usually by the beginning of Novem- 

 ber few remain. My latest record was November 21 (1915). 

 Following is a summary of migration for the past nine- 



