i54 



Dwight on the Horned Larks. [ April 



gated with white or soiled white markings * * *; underparts soiled white, 

 the cheeks and jugulum flecked with dusky, the breast and sides, ob- 

 scurely spotted with dull black [quoted in part]. 



This is the blackest-backed of all the races, the dark brown of 

 strigata having a decidedly yellowish shade, particularly in au- 

 tumn specimens, whereas merrilli is black-brown in spring and 

 strikingly grayish and streaked in autumn. Sometimes it shows 

 as much yellow -as strigata, chiefly in autumn specimens, but it 

 is a larger bird, so that size and color combined generally suffice 

 to determine doubtful specimens. Certain pale birds of large 

 size indicate an approach to leucolcema, and probably come from 

 an intermediate breeding area. The breeding range of merrilli 

 includes the eastern portions of Oregon and Washington and the 

 plains of the Eraser River. How far eastward it extends remains 

 to be proved. Birds from western Montana approach this form, 

 having yellow on the breast and darker streaked backs than aver- 

 age arenicola, to which form, however, it is perhaps best to refer 

 such specimens. In winter it ranges as far south as Carson and 

 San Francisco. Merrilli is certainly intermediate, but so are 

 other races, and as this one is constant over a considerable area, 

 it seems advisable to name it. This, it is only fair to say, Mr. 

 Wm. Brewster proposed to do some years ago, and at his 

 suggestion I name it after Dr. J. C. Merrill, U. S. A., to whose 

 efforts a fine series of specimens is due. (Cf. Auk, Vol. V, 18S8, 

 p. 259.) 



Average measurements of 20 breeding males : wing, 101.6 mm. (4.00 

 in.); tail, 69.6 mm. (2.74 in.); tarsus, 21. 1 mm. (.S3 in.) ; bill from nos- 

 tril, 9.4 mm. (.37 in). 



Specimens examined : $,d2; $,35; young, first plumage, 11. Locali- 

 ties represented : *Ashcroft, *Kamloops, and Chilliwask, B. C. ; Walla 

 Walla, Wash. ; *Umatilla Agency, Camp Harney, *Ft. Klamath. Ore.; 

 Carson and Steamboat Valley, Nev. ; *Mt. Shasta, Ft. Crook, Gridlev. 

 Marvsville, and Stockton, Cala. 



11. Otocoris alpestris pallida Towuseud, MS. 



Habitat. — Lower California and Sonora. Mr. C. H. 

 Townsend has recently described a race from Lower California 

 ami kindly permitted me to examine his type. Mr. W. E. Bryant 

 has also scut me a pair of this race, and informs me that they are 

 typical of others from the same locality. It is the smallest and 



