BIRDS OF 



more generally over tlie country, and are in no haste to retire, 

 but linger till the cold weather cuts off their supply of food. 



As the correct indentification of the small Flycatchers is 

 often a puzzle to the amateur I will give Dr. Cones' instruc- 

 tions which may be of use in this connection: 



" E. Acadicus — Nest, in the trees, in horizontal forks, thin, 

 saucer-shaped, open-worked ; eggs, creamy-white, boldly 

 spotted. 



E. Traillii — Nest, in trees, in upright crotch, deeply cupped, 

 more or less compact walled ; eggs, creamy-white, boldly 

 spotted. 



E. Minimus — Nest, in trees, in upright crotch, deeply 

 cupped, compact walled ; eggs, immaculate white. 



E. Flaviventris — Nest, on the ground or near it, deeply 

 cupped, thick and bulky ; eggs, white, spotted." 



Suborder OSCINES. Song Birds. 



Family ALAUDID^. Larks. 



Genus OTOCORIS Bonaparte. 



188. OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS (Linn. I. 474. 



Horned Lark 



Adult : above brown, tinged with pinkish, brightest on the nape, lesser 

 wing-coverts and tail-coverts ; other upper-parts gray, the centre of the 

 feathers dusky. Below white, tinged with dusky on the sides, anteriorly 

 with sulphur-yellow. A large black area on the breast. Sides of the head, 

 and whole of the throat, sulphury-yellow, with a crescentic (mark of black 

 below each eye, and a black bar across the forehead, and thence along the 

 side of the crown, prolonged into a tuft or " horn." 



Middle tail-feathers like the back, the others black, the outer web of the 

 outer pair whitish. Bill blackish, livid blue at base below ; feet black. In 

 winter, at which season it is observed in Southern Ontario, the colors are 

 paler and much less decided. Length, 7 to 7-50 ; /cwrt/^- smaller. 



Hab. Northeastern North America, Greenland and northern parts of 

 the Old World ; in winter south in the Eastern United States to the 

 Carolinas, Illinois, etc. 



Nest, a slight depression in the ground lined with grass. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; grayish-white, marked with spots of brownish-purple 



184 



