212 THE ALASKA HORNED LARK. 
sensitive upon the subject of metes and bounds. As for the insect world he 
rules it with a rod of iron. See him as he moves about thru a file of slender 
poplars. He flits restlessly from branch to branch, now peering up at the 
under surface of a leaf, now darting into the air to secure a heedless midge, 
and closing upon it with an emphatic snap, now spreading the tail in pardon- 
able vanity or from sheer exuberance of spirits; but ever and anon pausing 
just long enough to squeeze out a half-scolding song. The paler-colored 
female, contrary to the usual wont, is not less active nor less noticeable than 
the male, except as she is restrained for a season by the duties of incubation. 
She is even believed to sing a little on her own account, not because her mate 
does not sing enough for two, but because she—well, for the same reason that 
a woman whistles,—and good luck to her! 
During the mating season great rivalries spring up, and males will chase 
each other about in most bewildering mazes, like a pair of great fire-flies, 
and with no better weapons—fighting fire with fire. When the nesting site 
is chosen the male is very jealous of intruders, and bustles up in a threatening 
fashion, which quite overawes most birds of guileless intent. 
Redstart’s song is sometimes little better than an emphatescent squeak. 
At other times his emotion fades after the utterance of two or three notes, and 
the last one dies out. A more pretentious effort is represented by Mr. Chap- 
man as “Ching, ching, chec; ser-wee, swee, swee-e-e-e.” Many variations 
from these types may be noted, and I once mistook the attempt of a colorless 
young stripling of one summer for that of a Pileolated Warbler. 
Our Redstart shares with the Yellow Warbler alone the distinction of 
representing among us im ipsa specie the Warbler hosts of the East. Even so, 
our scanty summer population of Redstarts, confined as it is to the northeast- 
ern counties, appears to represent an overflow of the eastern hordes, or, per- 
haps, the van of occupation, rather than regularly established citizens. I have 
seen them as far south as Brook Lake, and as far west as Stehekin only; but 
Mr. Allan Brooks records a specimen from Chilliwhack, in western British 
Columbia. 
No. 87. 
ALASKA HORNED LARK. 
A. O. U. No. 474a. Otocoris alpestris arcticola Oberholser. 
Synonyms.—Arctic Hornep Lark. Patiip Hornep Lark. WINTER 
LARK. 
[Description of type form, Otocoris alpestris—Adult male in breeding 
plumage: A narrow patch across fore-crown with ends curving laterally back- 
