HORNED LARK. 



269 



of the eggs are often strong points in the evidence, T shall give 

 Dr. Coues' instructions, which may be of use in this connection : 



" E. acadicus — Nest, in the trees, in horizontal forks, thin, saucer- 

 shaped, open-work ; eggs, creamy-white, boldly spotted. 



E. train it — Nest, in trees, in upright crotch, deeply cupped, more 

 or less compact walled ; eggs, creamy-white, l)oldly spotted. 



U. minimus — Nest, in trees, in upright crotch, deeply cupped, 

 compact walled ; eggs, immaculate white. 



£J. flaviventris — Nest, on the ground or near it, deeply cupped, 

 thick and bulky ; eggs, white, spotted." 



Suborder OSCINES. Song Birds. 



Family ALAUDID^. Larks. 



Genus OTOCORIS Bonaparte. 



OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS (Linn.). 



194. Horned Lark. (474) 



Adult : — Above, brown, tinged with pinkish, brightest on the nape, lesser 

 wing coverts and tail coverts ; other upper pai'ts, gray, the centre of the 

 feathers, dusky ; below, white, tinged with dusky on the sides, anteriorly 

 with sulphur-yellow ; a large black area on the breast ; sides of the head and 

 whole of the throat, sulphury -yellow, with a crescentic mark of black below 

 each eye, and a black bar across the forehead, and thence along the side of the 

 crown, prolonged into a tuft or " horn." 



