PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. 27 1 



wing coverts, light vinaceoiis terminally, brownish-gray l>asally ; wings (except 

 as described), grayish-brown, the feathers with paler edges, outer primaries 

 with outer web chiefly white ; middle pair of tail feathers light brown (paler on 

 edges), the general portion (longitudinally) much darker, approaching dusky ; 

 remaining tail feathers uniform l)lack, the outer pair with exterior webs 

 broadly edged with white ; longer upper tail coverts, light brown, edged with 

 whitish and marked with a broad lanceolate streak of duskj' ; foreliead (foi- 

 about .15 of an inch) yellowish-white, this continued back in a broad supei- 

 ciliary stripe of nearly pure white; fore part of crown (for about .3o of an inch) 

 deep black, continued laterally back to and including the ear-like tufts ; lores, 

 suborbital region, and broad patch on cheeks (with convex posterior outline) 

 deep black, jugular crescent, also deep black, this extending to lower part of 

 throat ; chin and throat, pale stiaw yellow, gradually fading into white on 

 ■sides of fore-neck ; anterior half of ear covei'ts white, posterior half drab-gray, 

 each portion forming a crescent-shaped patch ; lower parts posterior to the 

 jugulum crescent pure white, the sides of the breast light vinaceous, the sides 

 similar but brown and indistinctly streaked with darker ; uppei- mandible, 

 plumbeous black ; lower, bluish-plumbeous ; iris, deep brown ; legs and feet, 

 lirownish-black. .Size, slightly less than the preceding. 



Hab. — Upper Mississippi Valley and the region of the Great Lakes. 



Nest, a hollow in the ground, lined with grass, horse haii- and feathers. 



Eggs, four or five, dull olive, marked with spots and sjjeckles of drab. 



So far as I can remember, this species first appeared in Ontario 

 about the jea,r 1868. It was noticed at once as different from our 

 winter visitor, being less in size and its plumage having the washed- 

 out look peculiar to the prairie birds. Since that time it has 

 increased annually, until it has become quite established. I think 

 they do not all leave in the fall, but that a few remain over the 

 winter. Great numbers appear in Fel^ruary or early in March, and 

 should the season be late, they swarm in the road tracks and bare 

 places everywhere, waiting for the disappearing of the snow, and 

 even before it is quite gone many pairs commence buildijig their 

 nests. Soon the flocks separate, the birds scatter in pairs over the 

 country, and are not again seen in such iiumbers until the following 

 season. This species is very common in Manitoba, whei-e thev raise 

 their young in suitable places all over the couiitry. 



Besides the original aljjestris thei-e are now seven different sub- 

 species of the Genus Ofocoris, descril^ed as being found in North 

 America. They all have a strong family likeness, but differ suffi- 

 ciently, in the eyes of the Committee, to warrant distinction, thougli 

 several of the groups are of very recent formation. Thev are found 

 mostly in the west and south-west, only one of the vai-ieties having, 

 till now, Ijeen observed in Ontarit). 



