HK OF TRANSMITTAL 
l'. >. Department OF A.GBICI i.n KK. 
Biological Subvbi . 
Washington, D. C. September L 1906. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for publication as Bul- 
letin No. 23 of the Biological Survey a report on the Honied Larks 
and their Relation to Agriculture, by W. L. McAtee, an assistant in 
the Biological Survey. The horned larks, though of small size, form 
an important group economically because of their very general distri- 
bution, their great numbers, and their food habits. A- a result of 
the present investigation it appears that though these birds feed to 
sonic extent upon grain the actual damage done i- slight, because the 
Brain eaten i» mostly waste. ( )n the other hand, the birds are shown to 
feed very largely upon insects and weed seeds, among which are some 
of the worst pests that the farmer has to contend with. The horned 
lark-, therefore, should he classed among the species highly beneficial 
to agriculture. 
Respectfully, ( '. Hart Merriam, 
Chief, Biological Suns 
Hon. James Wilson, 
Secretary of AgricuUurt . 
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