202 THE PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. 



No. 91. 



PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. 



A. O. U. No. 474b. Otocoris alpestris praticola Hensh. 



Description. — Similar to preceding forms, but smaller and not so brightly 

 colored ; the forehead and line over eye dull white, the yellow of throat pale or 

 wanting. Adult male, length about 7.25 (184.2) ; "wing 4.13 (104.9) ; tail 2.99 

 (75.9)." Adult female, "length 6.75-6.85 (171. 5-174.) ; wing, average, 3.84 

 (97-S) ; tail 2.73 (71.9)" (Ridgway). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size ; terrestrial ; "conspicuous black or black- 

 ish markings about head. Black crown patch produced into feather-tufts or 

 "horns" pointing backward. Forehead and line over eye whitish, never yellow. 



Nest, on the ground, a deep, cup-shaped depression plentifully lined with 

 grass. Depth, 1.85; width, 2.12. Eggs, 3 or 4, pale greenish or bluish white to dull 

 olive, heavy and evenly speckled with grayish or greenish brown. Av. size 

 .82 X .62 (20.8 X 15.8). 



General -Range. — Upper Mississippi Valley and the region of the Great Lakes 

 to New England, breeding eastward to western Massachusetts and even Maine; 

 south in winter to Carolina, Texas, etc. 



Range in Ohio. — Common in northern portion at all seasons ; breeds sparingly 

 southward at least as far as Columbus. Evidently increasing in numbers and 

 distribution. 



BEFORE the eyes have been opened to his singular beauties and charms 

 the Prairie Horned Lark is apt to rank among the unthinking along with 

 the "brown birds" oi roadside and field. He is a modest bird in some re- 

 spects, it is true. Watch him as he indulges in a dust bath in a warm country 

 road, or as he is surprised from his gleaning in late autumn. He will run 

 ahead with a plaintive cry as tho begging not to be disturbed or driven 

 from his treat. If your business is urgent and you must follow the road, 

 he finally leaves you with a louder cry of protest, either to fly to pastures 

 new, or, as is more likely, to circle around and fall in behind you at the old 

 spot. He is emphatically a bird of the open. He scorns trees and will not 

 trust himself to anything whose connection with the ground is less obvious 

 than that of a fence-post or, perchance, a fence rail. When he is on the 

 ground he walks or scampers, but does not hop like the Sparrow. 



Two phases of this bird's life stand out most prominently to view, the 

 winter flocking, and the early nesting. As winter approaches, these birds 

 renounce allegiance to local ties and form roving bands, which flit from field 

 to field or county to county, or else catch the fever of their more impetuous 

 cousins from the North and join forces with them for a brief southern flight. 



