The Horned Larks 
Authorities.—Heermann (Alauda rufa ), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, ii., 
1853, p. 265 (Calif.); Henshaw, Auk, vol. i., 1884, p. 267 (orig. desc.; type locality, 
“Stockton”; see Ridgway, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., no. 50, p. iv., 1907, p. 322, footnote); 
Townsend , Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. x., 1887, p. 210 (Sacramento Valley; desc. nest 
and eggs); Oberholser, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiv., 1902, p. 851 (monogr.). 
No. 162c Streaked Horned Lark 
A. 0 . U. No. 474 ft. Otocoris alpestris strigata Henshaw. 
Synonym.— Pacific Horned Lark. 
Description. —Similar to 0 . a. actia, but much darker; the dusky element of 
back, scapulars, etc., dominant and nearly blackish, set off streak-wise by buffy brown 
and vinaceous edging; the vinaceous element scarcely different in tone, but more 
narrowly confined; the yellow component increasing, usually more or less diffused over 
entire underparts, or at least over breast below jugulum. Size of actia. 
Range of 0 . a. strigata. —Northwest Pacific coastal strip; breeding in Oregon and 
Washington west of the Cascades; in winter to eastern Washington, Oregon, and north¬ 
ern California. 
Distribution in California. —Winter visitant in northern California, but chiefly 
in the Sacramento Valley south to Stockton and San Francisco (?) [The subsequent 
delimitation of 0 . a. sterns Oberholser, known to occur in winter in the Sacramento 
Valley, throws doubt upon the earlier identifications of strigata in the southern portion 
of its alleged range]. 
Authorities.—Belding (Eremophila alpestris ), Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. i., 
1878, p. 423 (Marysville, Feb.; see Ridgway, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., no. 50, pt. iv., 1907, 
p. 316); Townsend, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. x., 1887, p. 210 (Red Bluff, Dec.); 
Oberholser, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiv., 1902, p. 837 (monogr.; Red Bluff, San 
Francisco). 
No. I62i Island Horned Lark 
A. O. U. No. 474m Otocoris alpestris insularis C. H. Townsend. 
Description. —Very similar to 0 . a. strigata, but “slightly darker”—at least 
the vinaceous element may conceivably be darker, although the dusky (blackish) 
element is a shade lighter; yellow of throat (nearly wax-yellow) stronger, if anything, 
and remaining underparts said to be less usually diffused with yellow. Size of actia. 
Remark. —Except for the striking discontinuity of range, no one would ever 
have dreamed of claiming subspecific distinctness as between strigata and insularis. 
They are actually if not logically inseparable. Neither will the theory of parallelism 
of development account for this origin of forms so similar in regions as diverse as Santa 
Cruz Island (where insularis is at its best) and Puget Sound. There must be a his¬ 
torical connection between them, and that a recent one. 
Range of 0 . a. insularis (Wholly confined within California).—Common 
resident on all of the Santa Barbara islands. Casual upon adjoining portions of the 
mainland in winter. 
Authorities. — Cooper ( Pliileremos cornutus), Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., vol. iv., 
1870, p. 78 (Santa Barbara Id.); Henshaw, Rep. Wheeler’s Survey, 1876, App. JJ, 
p. 248 (Santa Cruz Id.); Townsend, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. xiii., 1890, p. 140 (orig. 
desc.; type locality, San Clemente Id.); Grinnell, Pasadena Acad. Sci., Pub. no.1,1897, 
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