140 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 100 



teen years. It will be noticed that four records of spring 

 arrivals are for mated birds. Allowing for a lapse of at 

 least seven days between the arrival of male and female, and 

 eliminating the four records made at Bury, Que., we have 

 an average date of arrival at Montreal, during fifteen years, 

 of March 1 (Feb'. 29 for leap years). 



The thirteen records of fall departure give November 3 

 as the average date on which the last birds were seen. 



The Horned Lark (Oct oris alpcstvis alpestris). 



While watching Prairie Horned Larks during April, 

 when they were paired and nesting, it has been customary 

 for me to see flocks of larks, sometimes as many as a hun- 

 dred, but usually between fifteen and fifty birds. Formerly 

 I thought these " praticola " on their way to more northern 

 districts, but later investigation invariably proved them to be 

 O. a. alpestris. In the vicinity of Montreal they usually ar- 

 rive more than a month later than " praticola " ; the average 

 time during seven years being April 11. 



Throughout April I have many times had the opportunity 

 of direct comparison between the two species. The contrast 

 between a solitary Prairie Horned Lark, giving utterance to 

 song or alarm, and the Horned Lark, with its gregarious 

 habits, startled whistle, unsettled manner, and absence of 

 song, easily proclaims the fact that it is still in migration, 

 and not even thinking of nesting. 



In the fall, when both species are gregarious, it is more 

 difficult to secure records without indiscriminate shooting, 

 and my scattered notes for this season are not sufficient to 

 warrant conclusions. 



Following is a summary of migrations for this species. 

 Omissions of dates of departure are due, mainly to my fail- 

 ure in recording them : 



1906 — First seen, April 8. Last seen, . 



1909 — First seen, April 4. Last seen, May 2. 



1910 — First seen, March 28. Last seen, . 



1911 — First seen, April 10. Last seen, April 23. 



1912 — First seen, April 28. Last seen, . 



