130 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [ilAR. 10, 



nized this need long before those of the Old World ; and conse- 

 quently trinomialism is considered largely an American idea, 

 or rather its application has been more general on this side of 

 the ocean than elsewhere. The future may have in store better 

 methods of providing recognition for geographical races ; but at 

 present trinomialism is certainly the only method which attains 

 this purpose. By means of an intelligent nomenclature, we are 

 able to express the relation that existing forms bear to their 

 neighbors, as well as to their ancestors ; and according to the 

 amount of material studied, these relations become clearer. 

 Coues in 1874 recognized three forms of the horned lark, and in 

 Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway's *' History of North American 

 Birds," published in the same year, the three were practically 

 recognized, — this conclusion being the result of the examina- 

 tion of over 100 specimens from all parts of the country. In 

 1884, Mr. H. W. Henshaw examined about 350 specimens, and 

 ventured to divide them into eight sub-species. 



During the past winter the writer of the present review of 

 the genus has examined over 2,000 specimens, and his con- 

 clusions form a paper, already in press, which takes up the 

 subject at this point, and was read in part only, the technical 

 portions being omitted. It was illustrated, however, by a wall- 

 map showing the breeding area occupied by each of the races, 

 and by a selected series of specimens from each of the areas, 

 which showed typical birds, male, female, and young, in spring 

 and autumn plumage. 



This series had been selected from the 2,000 examined, prob- 

 ably the largest number of one species ever before brought to- 

 gether. The study of this extensive series developed two new 

 facts, so far as this species is concerned, in regard to plumage; — 

 the first, that but one moult takes place in the year, the breed- 

 ing plumage being the result of the wearing away of the tips of 

 the feathers acquired during the autumn moult; and the second, 

 that young birds in passing from first plumage moult all their 

 feathers, including wings and tail. 



In establishing sub-species, the following rule was applied, 

 viz., to recognize as races groups of birds that during the 

 breeding season occupy definable areas over which similar con- 

 ditions of climate and vegetation prevail, and that show differ- 

 ences of size or plumage at the centres of such areas, which may 

 be readily recognized and clearly described. This brings it 

 down to a question of how closely to draw the circumscribing 

 Jines ; and allowing the already described forms to stand as 

 models, eleven such races are admitted, three new ones being 

 added to Mr. Hensiiaw's list. One of these has been separated 

 by Mr. C. H. Townsend. Full discussion of these, with mea- 



