CHAPTER XIV 



CROWS^ J AYS J ETC. 



The Horned Lark, the only representative of the lark fam- 

 ily found in America, is closely allied to the skylark of the 

 Old World. Larks are terrestrial birds, their colors har- 

 monizing with the prairies where they are found. Except 

 when nesting they are gregarious. 



Crows, Jays, Magpies, and Nutcrackers, all members of 

 the Corvidse family, are omnivorous feeders, living upon 

 both animal and vegetable foods. Many of them are not 

 migratory, while others are migratory to a limited extent. 

 These birds are of unusual intelligence ; many of this family 

 may be taught to speak. The starlings are Old World birds. 

 Those found in this country have been introduced from 

 Europe. In the East they are increasing in number to such 

 an extent as to be a menace; hence all should be interested 

 in their peculiarities. 



HORNED OR SHORE LARK* 



If the variety of names by which this lark is known is 

 any indication of its popularity, its friends must be indeed 

 numerous. Snow Lark, Snowbird, Prairie Lark, Sky 

 Lark, American Sky Lark, Horned Lark, are a few of them. 

 There is only one American species, so far as known. It 

 breeds in northeastern North America and Greenland, win- 



265 



