134 > BIRDS OF OHIO. 
170. (467.) “Empiponax MINIMUS Baird. 135. 
Least:: Flycatcher. 
Synonyms: Tyrannus acadicus, Tyrannula minima. 
Chebec, Sewick. 
Read, Family Visitor, II, 1853, 359. 
While this is common as a migrant throughout the state 
it appears to be rare as a summer resident, especially in.the 
‘south. I have yet to find a pair breeding in Lorain county. 
It is, however, given as breeding in Erie county, and as pos- 
sibly breeding in Scioto county by Rev. W. F. Henninger. 
Tt seems likely that it is local in its summer distribution. In 
August we found it along the Ohio river from Marietta to 
Ironton. . 
The Least Flycatcher reaches Lorain county by the 25th 
of April and departs about the first of September. 
SuBoRDER OSCINES. Song Birds. 
Family ALAUDIDAS..~ \Larks: 
The true larks are found in flocks of from a few to several 
hundred individuals except during the breeding season. 
Their food consists of weed seeds and such grains as may 
be scattered in the fields or by the roadside, and the eggs 
and larve of insects. Probably adult insects are also eaten 
to some extent. They are useful birds. 
171. (474.) Orocorts aLpestris (Linn.). 126. 
Horned Lark. 
Synonyms: Eremophila alpestris, E. cornuta, Alauda alpestris. 
Shore Lark. 
Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 164; 183. 
It is unfortunate that so few persons are able to distin- 
guish certainly between our three forms of Otocoris. The 
evidence seems to be pretty clear that there has been a shift- 
ing about of alpestris and an invasion of praticola since Dr. 
Wheaton wrote in 1882. He was familiar with the winter 
bird but knew nothing of the summer form, which he 
would have known had it been as common as it is now. 
