THE DUSKY HORNED LARK. 347 



The type specimen, No. 20387 (PI. 5, Fig. 30), Bendire collection, from a set 

 of two eggs, was taken by the writer, and represents a I'ather uniform and evenly 

 mai'ked egg. 



135- Otocoris alpestris pallida Townsend. 



SONORAN HORNED LARK. 



Otocoris alpestris paUida Townsend, Proceedings U. S. National ]Mnseuin, XIII, 1890, 138. 



(B _, G -, R -, C -, U 4Uj.) 



Geogkaphical range : Lower California and western Sonora, Mexico. 



The breeding range of the Sonoran Homed Lark is probably coextensive 

 with its geographical distribution, but comparatively little is yet known about 

 this small pallid race. 



Mr. A. W. Anthony writes me: "While Otocoris alpestris clnysolcema nests on 

 the San Pedro Martir Mountains at altitudes of about 8,500 feet, the nesting form 

 on both the lower eastern and western slopes of these mountains is Townsend's 

 Otocoris alpestris pallida, a strikingly different race." In a more recent letter 

 (July 8, 1894) he writes: "Pallid Horned Larks are common and breed some- 

 where not far from my camp, south of San Quentin, Lower California, where 

 they came to the corral each day in small companies of from two to six, and 

 over forty were shot; but their number continued about the same; they dropped 

 down from high overhead. Skins taken in December show strong traces of 

 intergradation with Otocoris alpestris chrysolcema." I believe the eggs of this sub- 

 species still remain iinknown, but they are not likely to differ materially from 

 those of our better-known Homed Larks, and its habits are undoubtedly also 

 similar. 



136. Otocoris alpestris insularis Townsend. 

 insular horned lark. 



Otocoris alpestris insularis Townsend, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, 13, 1890, 140. 



(B-, 0-, R-, G-, U-.) 



Geographical range : Islands off the coast of southern California, including Santa 

 Cruz, Santa Rosa, San ZSicolas, and San Clemente. 



This insular race of Horned Lark has not yet been admitted to sub- 

 specific rank by the American Ornithologists' Union, but as I believe that it is 

 well entitled to such recognition, I enumerate it among the other numerous 

 recognized races of this genus. Mr. Dwight, in his paper on the "Horned 

 Larks," says, on page 152: "Mr. C. H. Townsend has kindly loaned me a series 

 of ten male Horned Larks from the Santa Cruz group of islands, California, 

 including the type of the race he calls Hnsularis.' I am much surprised to find 

 his birds practically indistinguishable from Oregon specimens of strigata. They 



