474-b. Prairie Horned Lark — Otocoris alpestris 

 praticola. 



Sparrow-size, larger. Length j l /4 inches. 



Forepart of crown, slightly elongated feathers 

 on sides of head, a patch on side of head and on 

 breast, black; throat white or tinged with yellow; 

 forehead and a line over eye, white ; neck, back of 

 head and the rump pinkish buffy, washed with 

 grayish brown ; back striped grayish brown and 

 buffy; wing-coverts pinkish buff; tail mostly black, 

 its outer feathers broadly edged with white; lower 

 breast and belly whitish. 



This is a true lark, and has the famous lark-like 

 soaring and singing habit. When not actually 

 soaring high in the air it is decidedly a bird of 

 the ground, flying occasionally from field to 

 field, but spending its time mainly in walking 

 mouse-like on the ground. It is fond of open, well- 

 cropped pastures. In general appearance and in 

 ground-habits it somewhat resembles the Vesper 

 Sparrow. Its greater size, large black breast-patch, 

 black face-patch and white forehead are the chief 

 distinguishing features of the Lark in this connec- 

 tion. 



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