930 Report of State Geologist. 



Eaxge. — Northern part of northern hemisphere, in North America; 

 south in winter to Kansas, California, northern Illinois, northern In- 

 diana. Casually to South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, and North Mex- 

 ico. Breeds in Arctic regions. 



Nest, on ground, in clumps of grass, of grass and moss, lined with 

 feathers. Eggs, 4-5; greenish-gray, heavily marked or washed with 

 chocolate; .83 by .60. 



The Lapland Longspur ranges farther south than the Snow Bunt- 

 ing. Like it, however, it is found in flocks varying in numbers from 

 a few individuals to several hundred. Often, during their stay with us, 

 they and the Horned Larks are associated in flocks. To the northward, 

 sometimes, but a few Larks will be found in a flock of Longspurs, 

 while farther south, where usually Longspurs are scarce, a few, or even 

 single birds, may be found in flocks of Larks. Their actions, in some 

 respects, are similar. 



Dr. Wheaton notes that frequently, when first flushed, they utter 

 a rapid, rattling note, somewhat like that of the Kingfisher, but less 

 loud and harsh. They are irregular in their visits over the most of 

 Indiana, occurring in fall, winter and spring, but are seen more fre- 

 quently and more numerously than the Snowflake. About the lower 

 end of Lake Michigan they are sometimes seen in great numbers. In 

 the vicinity of Chicago they were exceedingly abundant the winter of 

 1869-70 (Aiken); also 1895-6 (Blackwelder), and 1896-7 (Tallman). 

 Mr. Parker says it is a common spring and fall migrant in Cook 

 Count)'^, 111. It is found by thousands on the prairies west of Engle- 

 wood, throughout April, in beautiful spring plumage, and by l\Iay 1 

 most have gone north. Mr. Toppan reports it as a common spring 

 migrant in Lake County, Ind. In Wayne County, Mich., they were 

 seen the winter of 1891-2, and springs of 1892-93-94-95 (Alexander). 

 The earliest fall record from that vicinity is September 26, 1896, and 

 the latest spring date is May 3, 1894. From March 28 to April 4, 

 1896, they were common, in immense flocks, in flelds, accompanied 

 by a few Shorelarks, at Laporte (Barber). Mr. Byrkit had pre- 

 viously reported it from there. 



The -winter of 1893-4 they were common in Wabash County, arriv- 

 ing in September, and remaining until March 15. Before that there 

 were but two records of its occurrence there. It has been noted as a 

 rare winter visitor in Dekalb County (R. W. McBride); as a regular 

 but rare winter visitor in Allen County; a pair was taken at Ft. Wayne- 

 in 1880 (Stockbridge). Dr. J. T. Scovell took three specimens near 

 Terre Haute in the winter of 1881-2. November 14, 1893, Jesse 

 Earlle obtained a single specimen, which he flushed from a wheat 



