144 XOKTll AMKKICAN V.nil):>. 



Var. rhryM>In-ma. 



Alaiula chrtjfinhvuio, \Va»;i.. Isis, 1>31, 350, — IJunai-. \\ Z. S. 1S:17, 111. Otnmrtjft ch. 

 FlN.-s<.ll, AMi. Xat. 1^7<', 341. Alnnda iiiin",-, (Iik.m i», \u ^\\.'\\\. \\. 1S41. Ahnnhi 

 rufo, .\\ \K liiuls Am. VII, 1S4.), 3r»3, pi. cccc.\«-vii. (it'u-orl^ r., llr.KitM. X. s, 4.'). 

 f Ofocorifs jiarffrtiKi, Sti.. 1*. Z. 8. lS."»r», 110, \>\. »ii. Kronoiiliihi p., Sol. Cat. .\iii. !>. 

 1800, 1-27. 



C'liAi;. Aihilt. Frontal ci'L-sci'iit loss than liall' as Aviije a> tlif l»lack. Throat and loro- 

 liC'a<l dtM-p straw-yell(»w ; pinki.sji tints ahovo deep cinnamon. 



a. Spi'cinuMis from Calitornia and Mexico, streaks on back. <'tc., very obsolete; ilarker 



central stripe to midille tail-feathers seareely observable ; white beneatli. 



Measurements. {;.\U^~. (/. Tun ila, Mexico,) winjr, .'J m> ; tail. 2.7'); bill, ..",;;_ .i:, _ ..}2. 



« (!>,li:>. ^, Mexicc,) " 4.10; " -J.KO; " .<;3 — .1:: — .r,o. 



" (;].1);5!>. (^. California,) '^ 3.8."); - 12.70; '• .50 — .1 I - . l."). 



" (r)8,o82. ^. (it. ^ialt Lake City.)*- 1.10; '• 2.80; '' .(;2 — .10 — .;12. 



h. Specimens from coast of Orcjron and Washington Territory. Streaks on baek, etc., 



very conspic^nons; dark central stripe of tail-feathers distinct ; yellow lu-neath. 



Meusxreineufs. (8.7.>4 ^, Fort Steilacoom,) wintr, 3.75; tail, 2.00 ; bill. .01 — .].") — .40. 

 II.M!. Middle Ameri.-a, froin the desert rejj;ions of the southern Middle rroviiice of 

 North America, south to Bojiotj'. 



Habits. Assiimino; the Shore Lark ot" the I^iLrador coast and tlie rufous 

 Lark o\' the Western prairies to be one and the same s]KM'ies, but sliulitly 

 nuxlilicd by dillerences (d" locality, climate, or food, we liave for this species, 

 at all times, a wide range, and, duiini,' the breedinu-season, a very unusual 

 peculiarity, — their abundant distribution through two widely distant and 

 essentially dilferent regions. 



During a large portion of the year, or from Octob(>r to April, these Idrds 

 may l)e found in all parts of the United States. l>r. AVoodhoiise found them 

 very common throughout Texas, the Indian Territory, New Mexico, and Cal- 

 ifornia. ^Nlr. Dresser states that he found the western variety — which he 

 thinks essentially ditt'erent in several respects from the eastern — in great 

 numbers, from Oct(d)er to the end of March, in the jirairies around San 

 Antonio. Afterwards, at (lalveston, in INLiy and June, 1864, he noticed and 

 shot several specimens. Although he did not succeed in finding any nests, 

 he was very sure that they were breeding there. Tt is common, during win- 

 ter, on the Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts U> Sotith Carolina. In Maine 

 it is comparatively rare. In Arizona, Dr. Cou< s|)eaks of the western foiUi 

 as a permanent resident in all situations adapted to its wants. The same 

 writer, who also had an opportunity of observing the eastern variety in 

 Uibrador, where he found it very abundant on all the moss-covered islands 

 around the coast, could notice nothing in their voice, flight, or general man- 

 ners, different from their usual habits in their southern migrations, excejjt 

 that dunnLj the breeding-season thev do not associate in flocks. 



Kichardson .states that this Lark arrives in the fur countries in company 

 with the Lapland liunting, with which it associates, and, being a shyer bird, 

 would act as sentinel and give the altirm on the aj)i)roacli of danger. As Mr. 



