3 



The Horned Lark is one example of this problem. The type subspecies 

 Otocoris alpestris alpestris has generally been known as the Horned Lark 

 regardless of the fact that any one of the fourteen or more other geogra- 

 phical races has an equal claim to the name and that it is the only name for 

 for the species as a whole. The obvious course is to call the typical subspecies 

 Otocoris alpestris alpestris (which although being described first has not 

 any taxonomic superiority to other forms), Eastern Horned Lark and to 

 apply the name Horned Lark to the whole collection of co-ordinate sub- 

 species, making it synonymous with the scientific binomial Otocoris 

 alpestris. 



The Migrant Shrike offered other difficulties. The logical proceeding 

 would be to call the whole species Louisiana Shrike, from its scientific name 

 ludovicianus. This would, however, introduce an unfamiliar name recog- 

 nizable by only a few. The species has, therefore, been called here the 

 Loggerhead Shrike, and the form of eastern Canada, the Migrant Logger- 

 head, on the assumption that the form hitherto designated Loggerhead can 

 be called, logically, Southern Loggerhead. 



It would be too much to expect that the result attained will satisfy 

 everyone; the writer hopes, however, that it will be accepted until the 

 American Ornithologists' Union committee takes the matter up and makes 

 authoritative decisions. 



In the following pa^es the number and vernacular name, with as 

 little modification as possible, have been taken from the American Ornith- 

 ologists' Union Check-list and appear first as a specific heading in heavy 

 type. Following, in smaller type, are the more common local names by 

 which the species has been or is known in various localities. The French 

 equivalent is then given, preceded by the contraction, "Fr.". These 

 formal French names have been adapted from Dionne's "Les Oiseaux de 

 la Province de Quebec" and are followed when possible by vernacular 

 terms in current use in French-speaking sections. Many of them were 

 furnished by Dr. C. W. Townsend who has had considerable ornithological 

 experience in the eastern provinces. Where French terms are missing, 

 there is as far as the writer is aware no accepted French name. 



The latin specific name follows in italics and is always binomial. 



Preceded by the initial "L" the length of the species is next given in 

 inches and decimals of an inch. The length of a bird is determined by 

 measuring it, in the flesh, in a straight line from the tip of ths bill to the 

 end of the longest tail feather, the bird being stretched only enough to 

 straighten the neck curves. The measurements given are those of the 

 average adult male and indicate the comparative size of the species under 

 consideration. They are not for specific identification, as in most species 

 there is more or less individual and sexual variation. 



Only an outline description of species is given and where there are 

 illustrations, the description is omitted and the reader is referred to the 

 illustration. 



Under "Distinctions," an attempt is made to bring out the salient 

 points by which the species, when in hand, may be separated from other 

 similar forms, and the work of other authorities has been freely drawn upon 

 to supplement the writer's observations. Many of the distinctive points 

 are naturally only superficial, but all are, as far as possible, reliable. 



