296 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



often associating with the Horned Lark and Snow Bunting, frequenting 

 the same fields. The nest of this species is described by Dr. Coues as 

 placed on the ground, under tussocks, in grassy hummocks. It is 

 built of mosses and fine, soft, dried'grasses, and lined with a few large 

 feathers from some water-fowl. 



The eggs, four to six in number, are rather pointed at the smaller 

 end, and are very dark colored, reminding one of the Titlark's ; the 

 color is a heavy clouding or thick mottling of chocolate-brown, through 

 which the greenish-gray ground is apparent ; .80 x .62. 



537. Calcarius pictus (Swains.) [188.] 



Smith's LongspuFt 



Hab. Interior of Arctic America; south in winter over the Great Plains and prairies to Illinois and 

 Texas. 



The Painted Longspur inhabits Arctic America, chiefly the Sas- 

 katchewan and the Mackenzie River Valleys, breeding as far north as 

 the Arctic coast and Upper Yukon Valley. It is a common bird on the 

 prairies of Minnesota, Dakota, Montana, etc., southward, associating 

 in the fall with the Chestnut-collared Longspur, but breeds mostly far- 

 ther north. Its nesting is like that of C. lapponicus. 



The eggs, four or five in number, are light clay color, marked with 

 obscure blotches and lines, dots and blotches of dark purplish-brown ; 

 they have the same average size as those of lapponicus^ but are colored 

 more like the eggs of the next species. 



538. Calcarius ornatus (Towns.) [189] 



Chestnut-collared liongspur. 



Hab. Great Plains of the United States, north to the Saskatchewan; south in winter to Arizona, New 

 Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. 



This bird is called the Black-shouldered or White-tailed Longspur, 

 It is one of the most abundant birds of the Western Plains — resident 

 in Middle and Northwestern Kansas, breeding north through Nebraska, 

 Dakota, Montana, etc., to high latitudes. A common but somewhat 

 local breeder in Manitoba. In Kansas it begins laying early in June. 

 The nest is placed on the ground on the high, open prairie, and is com- 

 posed wholly of mosses. 



A set of three eggs in Mr. Norris' collection was taken near 

 Huron, Dakota, May 22, 1886. Incubation had commenced, and the 

 bird was observed on the nest, which was a hollow in the ground, lined 

 with fine grasses. The eggs are pinkish-white, speckled with burnt 

 umber; sizes, .78X.56, .78X.54, .78X.57. A set of four eggs is in my 

 cabinet, which was taken in Becker county, Minnesota, where the 

 species is a common breeder. These eggs have a reddish-clay color, 



