2i8 THE PACIFIC HORNED 



IJ^RK. 



and llritisli Columbia; "migrating ti> eastern Oregon and Washington, and 

 nurilierii California ( Ked iJliiff; San Krancisco)" ( Ridgway). 



Kanxe in Washington. — l-"oun<l breeding mdy on ])rairies west of Cascades, 

 tlierefore cliielly (.-cinlineil to I'ierce, 'I'luirsttjn and Clieliaiis Counties; said to 

 winter on liast-side. 



Migrations. — S['riiuj: last week in I'ebruar)- ; Tacnma, l'"ebruary 25, i<to^, 

 I'ebruary 10, 11J08. 



Authorities. — lircmofhila cuninla llnie, Baird, Re]). I'ac. R. R. Surv., IX. 

 185S, 404. 405. (T). C&S. L'. Ra. 1'.. 



Specimens. — ( L'. of \\.) I'rov. !'■. 



TJll-". prairies of Tierce, 'rinirston. ;iii«l (."iiehalis Ci'uiUics, so often re- 

 ferred to ill these pages, are of coini)arati\eiy recent formation — mere gravel 

 beds leveled off by the action of <'i retreating sea — and so thoroly washed thru 

 portions of their area as to be capable of supporting little else than a carpel 

 of moss. The wanton recklessness of the Pacific Horiie<l Larks, which in- 

 habit these open stretches, is really but (jne degree removed from the modesty 

 of tlieir more fortunate kinfolk across the Cascades. It is modesty without 

 opportunity; and that easily becomes shamelessiiess. I-'or here the ground 

 is of an uncompromising green, and the "cover," alTorded by slight depres- 

 sions in the moss, is usually unworthy of the name. 



The ])erfection of green barrenness was attained in tlie golf-links of 

 South Tacoma, before they were surrendered to the demands of the growing 

 city. Yet tiiis was the \ery place where the Horned Larks ajipearcd to the 

 best advantage. Returning, as the\- diil, about the 23th (jf February, in good 

 seasons, they disj)orte(l themselves like mad Pixies for a month or so. engag- 

 ing in amorous i)ursuit and frequent song-flight; until in some way, late in 

 April, domestic ortler began to emerge from the chaos of rival claims, and 

 little homes dotted the ]irairie, where belted sejuircs and rctl-jackeled ladies 

 pursued the twinkling gutta-percha. The contlict of interests, avian an<l human, 

 was sometimes disastrous to the birds. Mr. Rowles records three instances in 

 which Larks were killetl by flying golf balls; and another gentleman, himself 

 a devotee of the game, tells me he once saw a bird struck dead in mid-air. 



By the spring of 1906 matters had gone from bad to wor.se. The golf- 

 links became a sort of common, despairingly resorted to by a few enthusiasts 

 and a motley laity. The northwest |xirtion of the section was staked out into 

 lots, and the whole area was criss-crossed by roads and paths, whereby work- 

 men, school-l)oys and delivery wagons hastened to and fro. Then it became 

 the special pasture of a band of fifty cows, the lean kiiie of Pharaoh's dream 

 multiplied by seven; and to the terrors of two hundred heedless hoofs was 

 later added a flock of sheep, being fattened for sacrifice at a ncighlKiring 

 slaughter-house. This common was also a favorite romping ground for 

 children, while <logs simplv went crazv u]>on it. I saw one rabid beast in a 



