WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 205 
From the Sierra Nevada to the coast, and from San 
Diego north to the vicinity of San Francisco, it is called 
the “ Mexican Horned Lark” ; in the upper Sacramento 
valley we find the “ Ruddy” and south through the in- 
terior to San José and Santa Barbara the “ Streaked.” 
In the northeastern corner, east of the Sierra Nevada, 
the species is known as the “ Dusky,” and that found 
on Santa Barbara Island is designated as the “ Island 
Horned Lark.” The distinction between these forms is 
one of size and color of plumage rather than structure or 
habits ; and while all are listed for purposes of identifi- 
cation, the description here given of the habits of the 
“Pallid” or “ Desert” Horned Lark is true of all. 
This is an abundant resident in the deserts of South- 
eastern California, east of the Sierra Nevada and through 
the Great Plains and Great Basin of the United States. 
It is characteristically terrestrial in all its ways, nesting 
and feeding on the ground, and is never found in heavily 
wooded districts. As its name implies, the arid, sandy 
regions where only stunted growth is found are the 
favorite haunts of this species. The others of its fam- 
ily, while equally terrestrial, prefer fallow fields, prairies, 
meadows, or edges of wet lowlands. The name of 
Horned Lark has been given them on account of the 
erectile tufts of black feathers on either side of the head, 
which, in anger, surprise, or the ardor of wooing, stand 
erect like tiny black horns. By this you may know 
them at first sight and love them ever after. Except 
during the breeding season, these birds are found in 
flocks; but as soon as the spring rains are over they 
