ALAfDID.?: — THE LARKS. 



337 



This being the only American genus of Larks, there is no need 

 in the present connection, for comparison with allied genera. There 

 is only one American species, so far as kno^NTi. This one (0. alpes- 

 tris) inhabits all the more open portions of the continent, breeding 

 fi"om the table-lands of southern Mexico to the shores of the Arctic 

 Ocean, and from the region of the Great Lakes (western New York, 

 Ohio, etc.) to the Pacific. In the various faunal districts of this 

 extensive area, it is divided into a number of well-marked geographi- 

 cal races, which have been distinguished by Mr. H. W. Henshaw 

 ("Auk," I. p. 263) as follows :* 



"0. alpestris. Size large; wing, 4.44; tail. 3.02; tarsus. .61; bill. .50. (Average of 19 males.) 

 Nape, lesser wing-eoverts, rump, etc., deep vinaeeous. Habitat, northeastern >fortli 

 America, Labrador. Greenland. 



"0. alpestris pratioola. Size smaller; wing, 4.17; tail, 2.9.3; tarsus, .83; bill, .46. (Average 

 of 19 males.) Nape, lesser wing-coverts, rump, etc, pale vinaeeous; back dead gray, in 

 contrast; whole aspect generally paler than in true alpestris. Habitat, Upper Mississippi 

 Valley and region of Great Lakes. 



"0, alpestris lencolsema. Size about as in nipeslris; wing 4.39; tail, 2.9b'; tarsus, .89; bill, 

 .9. (.\verage of 12 males.) Chief character, paler: nape, lesser wing-coverts, rump, etc., 

 very pale vinaeeous; back gray, in contrast. Throat white or with but faint trace of yel- 

 low. Colors are still paler in fall; occasionally at this season there is some yellow on 

 the thro.1t. Habitat, British .\mericaand Alaska; western United States only in winter. 



"0. alpestris arenicola. Size smaller than ?eHCo?(Enia; wing, 4.27; tail, 3.35; tarsus, .S4; 

 bill,. 48. (Average of 16 males.) The colors similar to the last, but throat always decidedly 

 yellow. Fall specimens arc brighter, with more yellow on the throat and forehead. 

 Habitat, Great Basin of United States and Kocky Mountains, 



"0, alpestris girandi. Wing, 3.78; tiiil, 2.37; tarsus, .80; bill, .43. (Average of 9 males.) 

 General color above brownish gray ; streaks of back very indistinct; yellow of throat 

 bright ; breast usually pale yellow. Habitat eastern and southeastern Texas. 



"0. alpestris chrysolaema. Wing 3.98; tail, 2.91; tarsus, .83; bill, .46 (Average of 4 males.) 

 Much deeper in color than arenicola. Xape, etc., deep pinkish rufous; throat deep yel- 

 low, but breast always white. Habitat, Mexico, possibly across the border into southern 

 Arizona and New Mexico. 



"0. alpestris rnbea. Wing,3.Sl; tail, 2.71; tarsus, .77; bill, .43. (Average of 11 males.) 

 General color above, deep cinnamon or ferruginous; throat bright yellow; streaks on 

 dorsum nearly obsolete. Habitat, California. 



"0. alpestris strigata. Wing,3. 99; tail, 2.75; tarsus, .76; bill.. 44. (Average of 2 males.) 

 Coloration above very dark; much less cinnamon than in either ruiiea or c^rysotema; 

 back distinctly striped with dusky ; breast usually yellow'. In some fall specimens the 

 yellow overspreads the entire under parts. Habitat, coast region of Washington Terri- 

 tory and Oregon." 



* The color descriptions are based on males in breeding plumaee. 



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