LARKS 



(474) Otocoris alpestris al- 



pestris (Linn.) (Gr., the ear 

 or "horn," helmet; Lat., alpine). 



HORNED LARK. Larger and 

 with more yellow than the next, 

 more common variety. L., 7.75. 



Range — Breeds in the Arctic 

 zone of Canada. Winters south to 

 Ga. and Tenn. PRAIRIE HORNED 

 LARK (O. a. praticola), the variety 

 figured here, is slightly smaller; L., 

 7.25. The whole plumage is a little 

 paler than that of the preceding, the 

 upper parts being a vinaceous brown. 

 Nest — On the ground in fields; 

 three to five grayish eggs, profusely 

 specked all over with gray and brown, 

 .85 X .60. Breeds locally from Quebec 

 and Man. south to Conn, and Kan. 



(473) SKYLARK (Alauda ar- 

 vensis), a European species, has been 

 introduced and breeds on Long Island. 



Sub-Order OSCINES. Song Birds 



Family ALAUDID^E. Larks 



HORNED LARKS are attractive ground birds having 

 small tufts of pointed erectile feathers on either side of the 

 crown. There are a great many sub-species, chiefly in the 

 west, varying slightly in size and more in the color of the 

 upper parts, which may be very pale, very dark, or bright 

 rusty-colored, depending upon the nature of the locality they 

 live in. The typical species is boreal and comes south to our 

 United States border only in winter. Our common species 

 is known as the PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. They are 

 abundant in the interior and not uncommon in eastern 

 states. During fall and winter they travel about in quite 

 large flocks, feeding upon weed seeds. At mating time the 

 males often ascend in the air singing, after the fashion of 

 Bobolinks or Skylarks, but their songs, while not unmusical, 

 are in no ways to be compared to those of the latter species. 



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