208 LAND BIRDS 



474 e. CALIFORNIA HORNED LARK. — Otocoris 

 alpestris actia. 



Family : The Larks. 



Length: Male 6.75-7.25 ; female 6.50-7.00. 



Adults: Upper parts reddish, more brownish in female , nape, shoulders, 



and rump light reddish brown, in contrast to back ; breast pure white 



in both sexes. 

 Geographical Distribution: Coast district of California and south to 



Lower California. 

 Breeding Range : West of Sierra Nevada from San Diego to Marin 



County. 

 Breeding Season: April 15 to June 15. 

 Nest : On the ground ; of dried grasses ; similar to that of pallid horned 



lark. 

 Eggs : 2 to 4 ; resemble those of the pallid horned lark. Size 0.82 X 0.60. 



474 f. RUDDY HORNED LARK. — Otocoris alpestris 

 rubea. 



Family : The Larks. 



Length: Male 6.50-7.00 ; female 6.00-6.50. 



Adults: Similar to the Mexican horned lark, but smaller and brighter 



colored ; hind neck, shoulders, and rump tawny cinnamon ; forehead, 



superciliary, and throat yellowish ; sides marked with reddish brown. 

 Geographical Distribution : California, in Sacramento and San Joaquin 



valleys. 

 California Breeding Range : Upper Sacramento valley. 

 Breeding Season: May to June 10. 

 Nest : Usually placed in a depression on the ground under a small bush, 



a tuft of grass, vines by the side of a clod of earth, or a small rock ; 



sometimes in a cultivated field ; composed of fine straw and grasses ; 



lined with horsehair. 

 Eggs : 2 to 4 ; pale olive buff, finely sprinkled with rusty gray. Size 



0.82 X 0.54. 



