HORNED LARK. 



474. Otocoris alpestris. 7^ inches. 



This variety, which is some larger than its sub- 

 species, is only found in the U. S. in winter, but sev- 

 eral of the sub-species are residents in our limits. Dur- 

 ing the mating season they have a sweet song that is 

 uttered on the wing like that of the Bobolink. 



Notes. Alarm note and call a whistled tseet, tseet; 

 song a low, sweet and continued warble. 



Nest. A hollow in the ground lined with grass; 

 placed in fields and usually partially concealed by an 

 overhanging sod or stone. The three to five eggs have 

 a grayish ground color and are profusely specked and 

 blotched with gray and brownish (.85x.60). 



Range. Breed in Labrador and about Hudson Bay; 

 south in winter to South Carolina and Illinois. 



Sub-species. 474b. Prairie Horned Lark (praticola). 

 A paler form usually with the line over the eye white, 

 found in the Miss, valley. 474c. Desert Horned Lark 

 (leucolaema). Paler and less distinctly streaked above 

 than the Prairie; found west of the Miss, and north to 

 Alberta. 



