THE HORNED LARK. 93 



black lines and dots about the largei* end, resembling those on 

 an oriole's ^"gZ- The average dimensions of thirteen eggs 

 are: length, .84; breadth, .61. In one specimen the maxi- 

 mum length (.87) and the minimum breadth (.56) are com- 

 bined. 



The shore larks are most indifterent birds about the safety of 

 their nests, feeding and singing in a visitor's presence with the 

 utmost unconcern, or leaving the vicinity entirely. While 

 they have eggs, we have never known them to exhibit an}' 

 anxiety, and the difficulty of finding the nest is thus greatlv in- 

 creased. When surprised upon the nest, they fly silently away 

 and do not return while any one is about. When they have 

 young, however, they will occasionally make a considerable 

 demonstration at being disturbed. At such times they fly 

 about the nest, alighting here and there, and passing close by 

 the intruder, uttering all the time cries of distress. Before in- 

 cubation fully begins, the bird is easily driven to desert her 

 nest by a slight disturbance from a passing vehicle or animal, 

 or almost any trifling interference. 



Judging from the length of the season during which the lark 

 breeds and from the expedition with which it disposes of its 

 young, there can be little doubt that two broods are raised in a 

 season ; and I am inclined to believe that sometimes three are 

 brought out. For a short time after leaving the nest, the oddly 

 marked young are accompanied by their pai^ents. Later, sev- 

 eral broods join together and the little company may be seen 

 scurrying about over the prairies. 



During the mating and nesting season the habits of this bird 

 present several interesting features. One such is the manner 

 in which the male delivers his love-song. Rising from the 

 prairie the exuberant bird mounts by successive leaps spirally 

 upward and upward, until almost lost from view. Listening 

 carefully we find that he is pouring forth his short song again 

 and again, hovering meanwhile a mere speck against the sky. 

 After a few minutes, folding his wings closely, the singer drops 

 head foremost, almost perpendicularly, and seems about to 

 dash against the ground when he catches himself on outspread 



