204. LAND BIRDS 



does the supply ever quite equal the demand, for every 

 visit of the devoted father is welcomed with wide-open 

 mouths and quivering wings. At first all this feeding 

 must be by regurgitation, the adult swallowing the in- 

 sect first and partially digesting it in some cases, and in 

 others merely moistening it with the saliva. After four 

 or five days most of the food is given to the young in 

 a fresh state. 



474 a. PALLID HORNED LARK, OR DESERT 

 HORNED LARK. — Otocoris alpestris l-eucoloema. 



Family : The Larks. 



Length: Male 7.50-8.00. 



Adult Male in Breeding Plumage: Fore part of crown, cheeks, horn-like 

 tufts, and patch on the breast black ; white stripe across forehead, 

 extending back over the eyes ; throat and sides of neck white, some- 

 times washed with yellow ; sides of breast, nape, and upper parts 

 pale cinnamon ; the back more or less distinctly streaked with darker ; 

 belly white. 



Adult Male in Fall and IVinter : Plumage generally softer and colors 

 more blended ; black markings more or less obscured ; chest often 

 streaked or washed with gray. 



Adult Female: Similar to male, but decidedly smaller; black on the 

 head replaced by brownish or buffy; the back reddish, and the 

 plumage streaked. 



Young : Upper parts brownish, white parts washed with buffy ; throat 

 and sides of the head spotted. 



Geographical Distribution : Great Plains and Great Basin of the United 

 States ; migrating in winter to Mexico. 



California Breeding Range: In deserts of southeastern region. 



Breeding Season: May 16 to July 21. 



Nest: On the ground; well built of grass, roots, and bark ; lined with 

 hair and old cocoons. 



Eggs: 3 to 4 ; grayish, irregularly marked with brown. Size 0.86 

 X 0.60. 



In every suitable locality throughout the great State 

 of California some form of the Horned Lark is found. 



