Horned Lark SONG-BIRDS. 



It is easy to confuse this CroAv witli the ordinaiy species, 

 the only marks of identification being its inferior size and 

 different call. It frequents the shore chiefly, and may be 

 seen here on its arrival in early spring, before the Gulls 

 have left, clamming on the mud flats and sand-bars of the 

 creeks that run into Long Island Sound. These Crows seem 

 to tread for the long-necked clams as people do, and then 

 dislodge them with a blow from their strong beaks, break- 

 ing the shell in the same manner, and tearing out the con- 

 tents with the aid of their claws. In winter I have seen 

 the common Crows flock to the beach and procure shell-fish 

 in the same way. The Fish Crow is said, by Audubon, to 

 catch fish like the Osprey, and flocks were seen by him sail- 

 ing through the air, above the St. John's River, Florida, the 

 aerial excursion lasting for hours, after which the Crows 

 would turn their attention to fishing for half an hour, and 

 then alight in the trees to plume themselves. 



Horned Lark : Octocoris aljiestrts. 



Shore Lark. 



Plate VII. Fig. 8. 



Length: 7-7.50 inches. 



Ilale : Upper parts brown with a pinkish cast, most marked on neck 

 and rump. Black crescent on breast ; black bar in front of 

 head, extending to side of head, forming two tufts or horns ; 

 frontlet, throat, and neck pale yellowish ; below whitish, streaked 

 with black ; bill dark ; feet black. 



Female : Paler and somewhat smaller. 



Song : Only a call note here, but a charming song in the breeding- 

 haunts. 



Season : Winter resident along shore ; October to April. 



Breeds : In March and April in boreal regions, and raises two broods 

 a season. 



Nest : Of grass, in ground hollow. 



Eggs : Variable, greenish white or gray, heavily marked with dark 

 gray. 



Bange : Northeastern North America, Greenland, and northern part 

 of the Old World ; in winter south in the eastern United States 

 to the Carolinas, Illinois, etc. 

 180 



