124 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



170. (467.) EMPIDONAX MINIMUS Baird. 135. 



Least Flycatcher. 



Synonyms: Tyrannus acadicus, Tyrannula minima. 



Chebec, Sewick. 

 Read, Family Visitor, III, 1853, 359. 



While this is common as a migrant throughout the state 

 it appears to be rare as a summer resident, especially in the 

 south. I have yet to find a pair breeding in Lorain county. 

 It is, however, given as breeding in Erie county, and as pos- 

 sibly breeding in Scioto county by Rev. W. F. Henninger. 

 It seems likely that it is local in its summer distribution. In 

 August we found it along the Ohio river from Marietta to 

 Ironton. 



The Least Flycatcher reaches Lorain county by the 25th 

 of April and departs about the first of September. 



SUBORDER OSCINES. Song Birds. 

 Family ALAUDID^. Larks. 



The true larks are found in flocks of from a few to several 

 hundred individuals except during the breeding season. 

 Their food consists of weed seeds and such grains as may 

 be scattered in the fields or by the roadside, and the eggs 

 and larvae of insects. Probably adult insects are also eaten 

 to some extent. They are useful birds. 



171. (474.) OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS (Linn.). 126. 



Horned Lark. 



Synonyms: Bremophila alpestris, E. cornuta, Alauda alpestris. 



Shore Lark. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 164, 183. 



It is unfortunate that so few persons are able to distin- 

 guish certainly between our three forms of Otocoris. The 

 evidence seems to be pretty clear that there has been a shift- 

 ing about of alpestris and an invasion of pratlcola since Dr. 

 Wheaton wrote in 1882. He was familiar with the winter 

 bird but knew nothing of the summer form, which he 

 would have known had it been as common as it is now. 



