392 



common. It visits Southern Eussia in the winter, but is not common ; Dr. G. Radde observed it 

 in the winter of 1851-52 (J. f. O. 1854, p. 60) here and there in Bessarabia, but commoner in 

 the Government of Cherson; but it is not found in the Crimea and in the remainder of that 

 Government past the Dnieper. So far as I can ascertain it does not occur in Africa, being there 

 replaced by 0. bilopha ; and though there are specimens in the British Museum said to be from 

 Northern Africa, there appears to be considerable doubt as to whence these and other skins 

 belonging to the same lot really came. 



To the eastward it is found right across Asia to Kamtschatka, but only in the northern 

 portions of that continent. Von Middendorff did not observe it on the Taimyr river, and only 

 obtained one on the Boganida ; but on the 4th May he saw it migrating in flocks between 

 Amginskaja, Sloboda, and the Aldan. Dr. G. Radde observed it in June in the Sajan Mountains, 

 and says (Reis. im Slid, von Ost-Sib. p. 154) that in the winter season he found it in the elevated 

 steppes of Dauria. In the Salenga valley and on the Ganse See a few remain to breed ; but most 

 of them migrate further on. On the 1st May he met with it in pairs in the Selenga and Uda 

 valleys. In the Central Amoor he never observed or heard of it. Dr. von Schrenck only observed 

 it in the Amoor country during migration, never in winter. He met with it at the Nicholaieffsk 

 Post on the 17th September, and on the Upper Amoor on the 3rd October. Pere David says 

 that it visits the northern portions of the province of Peking, in Northern China, during severe 

 seasons ; and Mr. Swinhoe obtained it through Mr. Fleming from Tientsin. It appears doubtful 

 whether it occurs in Japan ; but Temminck and Schlegel are inclined to believe that it has been 

 found there, as they saw it depicted in a native drawing. According to Pallas it is met with in 

 the Kurile Islands and at Kamtschatka. 



In the Nearctic Region it is found throughout North America, usually breeding in the fur- 

 countries, and migrating southward in the winter, but also breeding in some localities tolerably 

 far south. Specimens from the Western and Southern States are usually smaller and brighter in 

 colour than those from the north ; and when in Texas I was inclined to look on the bird found 

 there as a distinct species, especially as they remain there throughout the summer ; but a critical 

 comparison of the specimens I there collected, as well as some from Mexico, with my present 

 series of European and North-American birds, shows me that it is impossible to separate these 

 southern or the western birds, even as a permanent local form. On the other hand, the bird 

 from Bogota (Otocorys peregrina, Sclater) is undoubtedly distinct from the present species, which 

 inhabits North America from the far north down as far south as Mexico. Messrs. Baird, Brewer, 

 and Ridgway (B. of N. Am. ii. p. 144) say that it is common during winter on the Atlantic coast 

 from Massachusetts to South Carolina, but is comparatively rare in Maine. I may, however, 

 here remark that I frequently met with it in New Brunswick, especially during severe weather. 

 Mr. Dall only obtained one example, on the Yukon ; Dr. Suckley states that it is a common 

 summer resident near Fort Steilacoom, in Washington Territory; and Dr. Cooper found it 

 around Fort Mohave late in February, and again in May towards the summits of the Providence 

 range of mountains. Professor Baird further records (Am. Journ. of Science and Arts, xli. p. 30) 

 the occurrence of three examples in the Bermudas in October and February. 



In its habits the Shore-Lark resembles the Sky-Lark, and, like that species, is found in 

 small flocks during the seasons of migration and in winter, when it straggles down into Central 



