576 Colorado College Publicatiok 



Allen says that in 1871 it was "Frequent n^ ar Colorado City." 

 This statement seems rather odd in view of the fact that the 

 above mentioned specimen is the only one seen or taken in 

 El Paso County since. 



Calamospiza melanocorys. Lark Bunting. 



Summer resident ; common. Arrives usually early in May, 

 about the 10th. It was reported by Scheutze April 10, 1910, 

 and by Shaw April 15, 1912. Leaves in September. 



A bird of the plains and open country, nesting on the 

 ground, laying 4 or 5 unspotted pale blue eggs. When first 

 arrived they are in flocks, the males paying active court to 

 the gentler sex, and singing continually. In western Kansas 

 Aiken found Lark Buntings very numerous and the notes on 

 their habit of singing on the wing apply so well to them in 

 Colorado they may well be quoted here : "The males are sing- 

 ing almost incessantly from daylight until 7 or 8 o'clock, and 

 frequently throughout the day. They frequent open prairie 

 without brush, but prefer cultivated districts where there is 

 an early growth of weeds and grass. The male mounts into 

 the air at an angle of about 60 degrees to the height of 15 or 

 20 feet, gives two or three broad flaps of his wings as he 

 steadies, and then floats off to the ground, alighting 15 

 or 20 yards from where he started, and singing continuously, in 

 one key as he rises, in another as he floats downward. Look- 

 ing out over the prairie one see them in their conspicuous 

 black-and-white dress going through this performance as far 

 as the eye can discern. 



At this time of the day (morning) females are not seen 

 being probably on their nests, but during the heat of the day 

 they are seen feeding along the road or making short low 

 flights." This was May 24, 1900. He found full-fledged young 

 at Ramah July 15, 1897. 



