AMERICAN BIRDS. 317 



records to that effect. Two broods are reared in a season, the first very early usu- 

 ally by the last of April. Mr. L. Jones, of Grinnell, Iowa, states that as many as 

 three broods are reared in that region; the first nest is built late in March or early 

 in April, the second about the first of June, and the third late in July or early in 

 August. The highlands of meadows and cornfields are its resorts while breeding, 

 the nest being placed in a hollow of the earth, compactly made of dry grasses and 

 corn leaves, lined with a few feathers and horse hairs. Mr. Jones says that the 

 first nest is most elaborately made, while the second and third are more slovenly 

 put together. Three or four eggs are deposited, usually four; their ground-color 

 varying from pale olive or light greenish to dull olive-buff, thickly speckled and 

 sprinkled with drab. A set of four eggs in my collection, taken in Poweshick 

 county, Iowa, by Mr. Jones, gives the following measurements: .82x.61, .84x.62, 

 .82x.63. .86x.62. 



474c. DESERT HORNED LARK. Otocoris alpestris arenicola Hensh. Geog. 

 Dist. Great Plains and Rocky Mounain region of the United States. 



This subspecies inhabits the Rocky Mountain regions and the Great Basin of the 

 United States, coming east to Dakota, where it breeds at least as far east as Ramsey 

 county. Colonel N. S. Goss gives it as a common resident in Middle and Western 

 Kansas, where it begins laying early in April. Nesting, habits and eggs similar to 

 O. alpestris praticola. Average size of the eggs .86x.60. 



474tf. TEXAN HORNED LARK. Otocoris alpestris giraudi Hensh. Geog." 

 Dist. Eastern and Southeastern Texas. 



Mr. Joseph L. Hancock found this form of the Shore Lark very common on the 

 Hats north of Corpus Christi, Texas, and on May 27 a nest with four eggs was taken. 

 The nesting and eggs of this subspecies do not differ materially from those of the 

 others in this group that are better known. The average measurement of ten eggs 

 before me is .92x.66 inches. 



474^. MEXICAN HORNED LARK. Otocoris alpestris clirysolwma (Wagl.) 

 Geog. Dist. Coast district of California (north to Nicasio), Northern California, 

 and parts of Mexico, Mirador, Vera Cruz, Valley of Mexico, etc. 



This form of the Horned Lark is a constant resident of Mexico, and it occurs 

 northward and breeds in the larger valleys of Southern California. Its nesting, eggs 

 and general characteristics are similar to those of the preceding subspecies. The 

 average size of twenty eggs in the National Museum collection is .82x.60 inches. 



474f. RUDDY HORNED LARK. Otocoris alpestris rubea Hensh. Geog. 

 Dist. Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, California. 



The breeding range of this subspecies is confined to a rather small area of the 

 interior of the northern portion of California, the valleys of the Sacramento River 

 .and its tributaries, and probably the northern portion of the San Joaquin Valley. 

 A 'sorrel' or rufous-colored race, abundant in California. Mr. Shields informs me 

 that this bird may always be seen in greater or less abundance on the broad plains 

 and prairies of Los Angeles county, California. He found their nests, containing 

 fresh eggs, as early as April 15 and as late a the middle of June. The eggs were 

 three or four in number, commonly four, and sometimes five. One nest was found 

 containing six eggs. The nest is usually placed in a depression of the ground under 

 a small bush, tuft of grass, vines, by the side of a clod of earth, small rock, etc. It 

 is composed of fine straw and grasses lined with horse hairs. Mr. W. O. Emerson's 



