212 



197. Otocoris alpestris praticola (Hensh.). PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. 



Description. See under genus. Average measurements of 9 males from Raleigh: L., 6.90- 

 7.25; W., 4.00-4.25; T., 2.60-2.85. Average of 20 females from Raleigh: L., 6.40-7.00; W., 

 3.75-4.15; T., 2.40-2.75. 



Range in United States. Upper Mississippi Valley to New York in summer; in winter more 

 or less regularly to the Carolinas. 



Range in North Carolina. Same as the preceding. 



. 

 FIG. 167. PEAEIE HOENED LARK. 



The Prairie Horned Lark has been taken in this State, in company with the 

 preceding, at Raleigh in December, 1886, and January, 1887; also on February 20, 

 1895, and February 11, 1895. At Southern Pines a flock was observed on Feb- 

 ruary 19 and 20, 1902, by C. H. Morrell (Auk, July, 1902, p. 289). Cairns called 

 it a rare winter visitor in Buncombe County. 



Horned Larks are found most commonly in North Carolina during very cold 

 winters. 



43. FAMILY CORVIDyC. CROWS AND JAYS 



This family includes an extensive and cosmopolitan group of birds that agree in 

 having the feathers which cover the nostrils directed forward. 



They are divided into two groups: the Crows, which have the plumage mainly 

 or entirely black, are of comparatively large size, and have the wings much longer 

 than the tail; and the Jays, which have the plumage usually varied, often blue or 

 bluish, are of medium size, and have the tail as long as or longer than the wings. 



From an economic standpoint, the Crows and Jays have rather bad reputations 

 as robbers of other birds' nests, to some extent sustained by facts. Their other 

 reputed bad habit, that of destroying newly planted or just sprouting grain, seems 

 to be abundantly offset by the great number of white grubs, wireworms, and cut- 

 worms which they destroy. 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Plumage wholly black. Wings much longer than tail. Corvus. 

 1. Plumage mainly blue. Wings about as long as tail. Cyanocitta. 



