EOBNED LARKS 375 



of the Yosemite section, as well as again in the open country east of the 

 Sierra Nevada. Wherever it nests the species is probably resident through- 

 out the year, as it most certainly is in the San Joaquin Valley. East of 

 the mountains, where heavy snow covers the ground for at least a portion 

 of the winter season, the birds may be partially migratory, although of 

 this we are uncertain, because we made no winter observations in the 

 Mono Lake region. 



The Horned Lark is a notably gregarious species. Even during the 

 breeding season, when the pairs severally are attending to the duties of 

 nesting, members of neighboring pairs are wont to convene together, 

 apparently for the mere sake of sociability. Dusty roadways are favorite 

 meeting places and here it is that the Horned Lark is most likely to come 

 to the attention of the traveler. When on the ground the birds walk with 

 alternate tread and a consequent side to side movement of the body and 

 fore and aft movement of the head, resembling, in these respects. Brewer 

 Blackbirds and Pipits. If a bird be excited or frightened its walk changes 

 into a gliding run; when advancing in this manner the straight forward 

 movement of its pale-colored body along the ground renders it decidedly 

 inconspicuous. 



If put to flight Horned Larks get under way quickly, each individual 

 pursuing an undulating course; the flock assumes an irregular, scattered 

 formation, circles about, and often alights close to the place from which 

 it was frightened. The dull colored back and pale under surface match 

 well with the earth or sky; but at times, as the birds glide slantingly 

 through the air, the white under lining of the wings shows momentarily in 

 silvery flashes. 



The rather faint call notes, see-weetle, see-tle, or just sleet, are uttered 

 at irregular intervals while the birds are either on the ground or in flight. 

 A distinct flight call is also given when the members of a flock begin to 

 take wing ; this resembles the syllables twee-too-too-too, twee-too, clear and 

 plaintive. In the spring there is a definite song on the part of the male, 

 consisting of a series of weak finely attenuated notes, with a pleasant 

 tinkling quality : teet, toot, teet-teetle-eetle-eetJe. This song may be uttered 

 when the bird is perched on a clod or hummock, but is also given, and then 

 much more impressively, when the bird circles high overhead in seemingly 

 aimless course. This it does for many minutes at a time, giving a sug- 

 gestion of the genetic relationship which the Horned Lark bears to the 

 Skylark of the Old World. 



The race of Horned Lark occurring east of the mountains is relatively 

 uncommon there, doubtless because of the scarcity of suitable prairie 

 land. On May 12, 1916, a pair was encountered on an open piece of ground 

 which had been cleared of sagebrush and used as a sheep corral. A few 



