BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



2 33 



in my collection taken at Ipswich in 1900. Another bird was seen at the same 

 time. During the first half of October, Horned Larks are found in small 

 numbers, but they become abundant in the latter half of the month, increase 

 through November, and reach their height in December. During most of 

 January they are common but in the latter part of that month and in February 

 and early March comparatively few are to be found, while in the latter half of 

 March they again increase in numbers but are never as common as in the fall, 

 and a few may occasionally be found early in April. My latest date, April 10th, 

 records a specimen taken at Ipswich, and now in Mr. Brewster's collection. It 

 is possible that some of the very early and late dates given before the subspecies 

 were recognized may have referred to the Prairie Horned Lark. 



It is always difficult to count or estimate the number of birds seen, par- 

 ticularly when they are so restless as are Horned Larks, who are constantly 

 flitting about in loose flocks. I give, however, the census referred to above of 

 Horned Larks seen at Ipswich in the dunes and fields near the sea, as estimated 

 during visits to that region in the last six years. Nearly all the counts are my 

 own. I am inclined to think that the numbers are rather under- than overesti- 

 mated. September 28, 2; October 2, 3; October 16, 10; October 18, 15; 

 October 23, 40; October 26, 150; October 30, 100; November 1, 100; 

 November 15, 75 ; November 20, 150; November 22, 200; December 6, 200; 

 December 8, 300; December 28, 100; December 29, 150; December 29, 130; 

 Januarys 150; January 12, 100 ; January 19, 100; January 21, 55 ; January 

 22, 25; January 24, 200; January 26, 50; February 1, 35; February 12, 12; 

 February 14, 25 ; February 21, 16; February 22, 25 ; February 22, 8; Febru- 

 ary 2 5. 35 ; March 10, 26; March 16, 150; March 24, 50; March 25, 30; 

 March 26, 35 ; March 30, 18 ; April 2, 20; April 3, o ; April 3, 40 ; April 8, 1. 



Mr. Maynard 1 states in his Naturalist's Guide that this bird is a " common 

 winter visitor," and in reply to a request for fuller particulars he writes me under 

 date of January 8th, 1905, as follows: "I think the Horned Larks were 

 variable in winter as to numbers, depending upon the depth of the snow. I 

 remember one winter when the ground was bare most of the time, when they 

 were common all winter. I think, however, that as a rule they are much less 

 common in midwinter than in spring and fall." Mr. Maynard's observations at 

 Ipswich were made about thirty-five years ago, and it is apparent that they coin- 

 cide with mine. 



The old term, Shore Lark, is a most appropriate name for this bird, as it is 

 generally seen near the shore. Here it is equally at home on the beach, among 

 the dunes, and in the salt marshes, as well as on the hills and in the cultivated 



1 C. J. Maynard: The Naturalist's Guide, p. 121, 1870. 



