2Cb Henshaw ov the North American Shore Larks. [J"ly 



The number of species that have been described by European 

 ornithologists from time to time suggests that the susceptibihty of 

 tlie Old World bird to changes of size and color corresponding to 

 changes of environment is as great as in this country, and that 

 the question of their relationship is not less intricate than with us. 

 Unfortunately the Old World skins at hand are too few to afford 

 opportunity for discussion in the pi'esent connection. 



2. Praticola. — The first indications of a departure from the 

 type of true alpestris are to be noticed in the region to the south 

 and west of the Great Lakes, especially in Illinois. The birds of 

 this region are to be distinguished as a race from alpestris proper 

 by smidler size and by paler colors. Specimens in the breeding 

 plumage are at hand from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, 

 New York, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Eastern Kansas. 

 Those from Michigan are paler than any of the others and sug- 

 gest an approach to the Icucolcema type. 



In connection with this race, it is of interest to note that it 

 ' appears to be gradually extending its range and to be encroach- 

 ing on a territory which by reason of recent deforestation has been 

 made to approach the conditions this prairie-loving species seeks. 

 Thus Dr. C. H. Merriam writes that it has made its appearance 

 in Lewis County, New York, within a very few years, and 

 appears to be gradually gaining a foothold there. The number 

 of specimens of this form before me is very large, and while they 

 show it to be a well marked race, especi dly when extremes of 

 either form are compared, they also prove'that on the one hand it 

 intergrades with alpestris and on the other with lezicolcema., 

 according as the respective regions inhabited by these forms are 

 approached. Certain specimens also from Kansas more than 

 hint that, as we go westward, it passes into areiiicola of the 

 plains. A winter specimen of this form from Texas indicates 

 the extent of its dispei'sion at that season. 



3. Leucolsema. — This form is characterized by large size, it 

 being larger even than alpestris^ and by pale colors. It never 

 has any decided yellow on the throat, though the latter and super- 

 orbital line is not rarely tinged with this color. It has been sup- 

 posed to breed along our northern frontier in Montana, etc., and 

 Colorado even has been assigned as its summer habitat. So far 

 as specimens at hand show, however, it does not spend the sum- 

 mer anywhere within our frontier, all of the summer specimens 



