THE ADAPTATIONS OF THE ANIMALS OP THE STEPPE 21 



The birds of plains possess one or more of the following 

 characteristics : 



1. Nests necessarily built on the ground. 



2. Many sing on the wing. (Lark Bunting, Longspur, 

 Horned Lark, frequently the Meadowlark, are examples). 



3. Songs and calls comparatively loud. 



4. Tendency to flock not nearly as prominent as in birds of 

 the woods or water. The winter flocking is largly accidental. 

 They gather to feed where food is exposed by the blowing of 

 the snow. 



5. Ability to withstand strong wind. Seed-eaters feed dur- 

 ing winter in apparent comfort on hills swept by high winds. 



6. Females and nestlings are almost all protectively colored. 

 This seems required by the exposures of the nesting sites. 



Highly migratory. 



I>ut few individuals remain on unbroken plains during 

 winter and these of different species than in summer, except 

 in the case of the Desert Horned Lark. Even this bird mi- 

 grates somewhat. 

 8. Ability to withstand the intense heat of the sun. 



This is required especially by the nestlings which are 

 often on dark ground. 



The birds of the steppe must of necessity require but little 

 drinking; water. Heavy dews are rare on the plains. 



The reptiles, of which the rattle snake, bull snake, and the 

 horned lizard are the chief, possess a surprisingly effective pro- 

 tective coloration. 



Of the insects of the steppe the following points may be made. 



1. The period of the day when the greatest activity is evi- 

 denced is in the forenoon from 7-11 o'clock. Mating is 

 chiefly indulged in between n o'clock and one. During the 

 rest of the twenty-four hours the insects are quiescent except 

 when disturbed. 



2. Seasonal activity limited to but three or four months of 

 the year. Almost complete inactivity during six months of 

 the year. 



3. Many forms burrow or occupy mammalian burrows. 



4. Predominance of hoppers. 



