THE HORNED LARK. 
199 
THE Horned Lark bears the reputation of being the most plastic of 
American species—the Song Sparrow (Melospiza cinerea) alone competing 
with it in this respect. A recent monograph by Mr. Harry C. Oberholser! 
enumerates twenty-two forms, of which sixteen are described as North 
American, and five Mexican, beside one from Colombia and another (O. a. 
flava) from Eurasia. Of this number the majority occur west of the Miss- 
issippi River, where climatic conditions are more sharply differentiated, and 
where, especially in the southwest, the situation admits of that permanent 
residence which is almost essential to the marked development of subspecific 
forms. Doubtless other forms will be elaborated, and perhaps some of the 
distinctions here pointed out will prove inconstant, and the names proposed 
Taken in Colorado. Photo by E. R. Warren 
HORNED LARK—MALE?2 
untenable; but the fact remains that Mr. Oberholser has done a splendid 
piece of work, and one which serves to renew the fascination of the old prob- 
lem of the influence of environment upon the origin of species. 
There is much to be done in Ohio in accurately determining the mutual 
relations and the distribution of the three forms which occur here in winter. 
The problem is complicated by the large number of intermediate forms which 
are to be found. Indeed it is scarcely too much to say that no two Horned 
Larks look exactly alike. Typical specimens of each subspecies may be found 
during any season, but the majority of all birds taken will prove to be puz- 
zling intergrades. The reason for this I conjecture to be as follows: Oto- 
coris alpestris (or more properly, O. alpestris alpestris) attains its maximum 
1A Review of the Larks of the Genus Otocoris (Proceedings of U. S. Nat'l Museum, Vol XXIV. 
2 This series of pictures taken by Mr. Warren in midwinter at Colorado Springs and represents 
Q. a. leucolaema (Coues) or, possibly, O. a. hoyti Bishop. In either case the differences between them 
and our local species are too slight to be noticeable in a black and white reproduction. 
