28 THE O. & ©. SEMI-ANNUAL: 
Central Iowa birds are colored as follows: Nape, occiput, sides 
of neck and breast, lesser wing coverts, upper tail-coverts, light 
vinaceous or pinkish cinnamon ; back, scapulars, rump, grayish- 
brown, the feathers with darker centers, especially on the rump ; 
middle wing-coverts light vinaceous or pinkish, terminally, 
dusky ; wings otherwise grayish-brown, the feathers paler edged, 
and outer web of outer primary mostly white. Middle pair of 
tail feathers light-brown, with paler edges and darker central por- 
tions ; remaining tail feathers dark brown or black, outer web of 
outer pair edged with white, like outer primary. Forehead, su- 
perciliary stripe, chin and throat pale straw-yellow; often no 
trace of yellow on forehead and above eyes; the yellow of the 
throat very variable, from deep primrose-yellow to pale straw- 
yellow, or scarcely a trace of color. Fore-part and sides of 
crown, continuing laterally back and above eyes, including the 
ear-tufts, lores, sub-orbital region, broad patch on cheeks, and 
jugular crescent extending to lower part of throat, deep black, 
more or less overlaid with grayish-brown. Anterior portion of 
ear-coverts, white ; posterior portion, grayish-drab. Other lower 
parts, grayish-white, the sides indistinctly streaked with dusky ; 
belly sometimes distinctly washed with black. Upper mandible, 
dark plumbeous, lower, bluish-plumbeous ; ivis, deep brown ; feet 
and legs, brownish-black. Females are paler and browner 
throughout. Young are speckled all over with more or less 
brownish. 
For a month previous to the first hard frosts, and indeed until 
winter sets in in earnest, the Larks are seclusive and hard to find ; 
but the cold north winds and snow drive them together in flocks 
often numbering 20 individuals. Within a radius of three miles 
there are 15 or 20 such flocks, each having its particular feeding 
and nesting grounds. Week after week, and month after month 
I find the same flocks and same individuals at their old stands, 
and I can tell when a newcomer is there in the place of a fallen 
comrade. ‘len and often twelve times a week I pass them and 
note their ways and actions, often approaching within ten feet of 
them. There is a difference in birds of the same species. 
After a heavy fall of snow, the Larks burrow in the drifts at 
night and then allow the drifting snow to cover the opening, 
leaving no trace of the birds. In early morning you may rouse 
