THE NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY. 



FAMILY ALAUDID.E: LARKS. 

 Genus OTOCORIS Bonaparte, 1838. 



Otocoris alpestris (Linnaeus). Homed Lark. 



Alauda alpestris LIXK.EUS, S. X., ed. 10, 1758, 166. 



Eremophila alpestris BOIE, Isis, 1828, 322. 



Otocoris alpestris BONAPABTE, Nouvi Ann. Sci. Nat. Bologna, II, 1838, 

 407. 



Popular synonyms: SHORE LARK. SNOW LARK. SKYLARK. AMERI- 

 CAN SKYLARK. PRAIRIE LARK. SNOWBIRD. 



The Horned Lark is a rare winter resident within our limits. 

 No doubt its presence has been overlooked by many of our Illi- 

 nois observers, for it differs from Otocoris alpestris praticola only 

 in size, being larger and a trifle darker in color.* 



The range of this species covers northeastern North America, 

 Greenland and the northern parts of the Old World. In winter 

 it passes south in the eastern United States to the Carolinas, 

 Illinois, etc. 



Otocoris alpestris praticola Henshaw. Prairie Horned Lark. 



Otocoris alpestris praticola HENSHAW, Auk, I, July, 1884, 264. 

 Popular synonyms: The same as Otocoris alpestris. 



A common resident, breeding within our limits from the last 

 of February to June. 



*In his "Birds of Northeastern Illinois" (Bull, of the Essex Institute, Vol. 

 VIII, 1876, 110), Mr. E. W. Nelson says: "Two current and readily distinguish- 

 able varieties (of alpestris) are found during the winter, one of which is also 

 found in summer. Aware of their identity, yet wishing confirmation, I sent Mr. 

 Bidgway specimens of the two. The winter resident he pronounced typical var. 

 alpestris, and the permanently resident form var. leucolaema Cs." 



On the strength of this knowledge, Mr. Nelson includes the variety leucolaema 

 Coues, which is a species inhabiting the "interior of British America, and Alaska, 

 south in winter into western United States," in his list. He gives the following 

 note: "It is a permanent resident, found in equal numbers throughout the year. 

 Sometimes the last of February and regularly during March and April the first 

 set of eggs are deposited, and early in May the fully fledged young commence to 

 appear. After a short rest the female hands the guidance of the young over to 

 the male and resumes her work on a second set of eggs. When the second brood 

 are able to follow, the party wander wherever inclination leads through the fall 

 and winter, until the breeding season again approaches, when they disband. 



"A remarkable characteristic of the young of leucolaema from Illinois is that 

 they are exactly like the young of alpestris, although the young of the two varie- 

 ties are, usually, even more distinct than the adults. So closely like the young 

 of alpestris are they, that Mr. Ridgway had labelled young specimens from this 

 vicinity, and from southern Illinois, 'alpestris,' and supposed this to be the resi- 

 dent variety until he received the adults above mentioned." 



Regarding the identification of the specimens sent to him by Mr. Nelson, Mr. 

 Ridgway says in his "Revised Catalogue of the Birds of Illinois," 1881, p. 183, 

 "Mr. Nelson includes the pale form distinguished by the name of leucolaema 

 Coues, in his list. This, however, is an error, so far as the specimens upon 

 which the statement was based are concerned, but one for which I r.m chiefly re- 

 sponsible. A series of specimens was submitted to me for examination, and' cer- 

 tain examples, in very pale plumage, I pronounced to be the 'var. leucolaema.' 

 In this I was mistaken, the individuals in question proving to be the true alpes- 

 tris, in much faded summer plumage. Although it is frequently not easy to dis- 

 tinguish the adults of the two forms, there is never any difficulty with the young, 

 that of leucolaema being many shades lighter in color, the difference being, more- 

 over, absolutely constant. I was only made aware of my mistake by the subse- 

 quent inspection of young birds said to be the same form which I had previously 

 identified as leucolaema; and, neglecting to explain the case in time, am thus 

 responsible in great measure for the statement made by Mr. Nelson In regard 

 to these birds, as cited above." 



