Bird LiFE of North Dakota 53 



183. Otocoris alpestfls Icncokcma (Coues). Desert Horned Lark. 

 CouES, 1878, pp. 555-557; from the Red River west to the Rocky Mountains it 



breeds in profusion and during the greater part of the year is the most abundant 

 and characteristic species of the prairie avifauna. Specimens were taken at Mouse 

 River September 12 and October i, 1873. Hoffman, 1882, p. 400; secured a number 

 of specimens in the grassy areas near the stubble fields. It is more common after 

 the 15th of September. Cooke, 1888, p. 156; breeds in North Dakota as far east as 

 Devils Lake. CouES, 1897, p. 57; Audubon says on June 27, Harris shot two of 

 what he calls the small shore lark, near Fort Union. Ridgway, 1907, p. 309; breeding 

 in North Dakota. Larson, 1913, p. 94; in McKenzie County becomes common in 

 February after the first few warm days. Judd, 1917, p. 21 ; this light-colored form 

 is more common than praticola, but does not appear in the spring migrations until 

 much later. 



At Devils Lake I saw two birds which I referred to this species on May 

 6, 1921, but it was not as common as on the open prairies. At Medora it 

 was almost the only bird seen on the high, barren prairies. It was also 

 common at Williston and Bottineau. 



184. Otocoris alpestris hoyti Bishop. Hoyt's Horned Lark. 



Bishop, 1896, p. 130; the type is an adult male, No. 1447, Cando, Towner County, 

 North Dakota, April 22, 1895. L. B. B., collection of L. B. Bishop. Larson, 1913, 

 p. 94; occasionally seen during the winter in McKenzie County. Judd, 1917, p. 21; 

 common in flocks in late fall and late winter migrations, but classed as a winter 

 resident. Reid, 1921, p. 6; frequent during the winter months. 



A mounted specimen is in the Williams Collection, but the species was 

 not seen alive. 



185. Otocoris alpestris enthymia'^ Oberholser. Saskatchewan Horned Lark. 



Reid, 1921, p. 6; abundant in the fall and late winter, a few are probably with 

 us throughout the year. 



Mr. Russell Reid has given the author a photograph taken June 6, 1921, 

 near Bismarck, of a female of this species on her nest. (See Plate HI.) 



186. Pica pica hudsonia (Sabine). Magpie. 



Baird, 1858, p. 578; male taken at Fort Berthold, 1856, by Dr. Hayden. Aleen, 

 1875, P- 61; not common. CouES, 1878, p. 607; no magpies seen in the Red River 

 region. Hoefman, 1882, p. 400; rare, saw two individuals in the Bad Lands seven 

 miles east of Fort Berthold about the 20th of September. CouES, 1893, p. 251 ; 

 Lewis and Clark sent four magpies alive to President Jefferson from Fort Mandan 

 on April 4, 1805 ; on April 14 they saw a number of magpies which built their nests 

 of sticks in trees. CouES, 1897, p. 58; Audubon says on June 27, 1843, Bell saw 

 some magpies: p. 63; on June 25, Squires saw a great many about 15 miles from 

 Fort Union. Ridgway, 1904, p. 290; breeding at Fort Berthold, McLean County. 

 Thwaites, 1906, p. 31 ; on July 9. i8.-^3, Maximilian records killing his first magpie 

 near Fort Union : p. 215 ; on November 5. 1833, he saw many magpies, one so tame 

 it settled on the rudder of the boat. Larson, p. 94; a common resident, will eat 

 any kind of flesh. Baieey, 1918, p. 176; has been recorded at Creel Bay, Devils 

 Lake, which is its eastern limit. Freeman, 1919, p. 13; sometimes a winter visitor, 

 seen near Casselton and Leonard, Cass County. 



* Oberholser. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.. XXVI. June 9. 1Q02, pp. 807-817. (Revised 

 as a subspecies) Atik, Vol. XXXVL 191Q, p. 269. 



