296 
SINGING BIRDS. 
the whole company in advertising them of the approach of 
danger. Ihey soon after retire to the marshy and woody dis- 
tricts to breed, extending their summer range to the Arctic Sea. 
1 hey are said to sing well, rising into the air and warbling as 
they ascend, in the manner of the Skylark of Europe. “ The 
male,” says Audubon, like the Common Lark, “ soars into the 
air, sings with cheerfulness over the resort of his mate, and 
roosts beside her and his nest on the ground, having at this 
season a very remarkable appearance in the development of 
the black and horn-like egrets.” 
Happy Nuttall, to have died before “variety making” came into 
fashion! You had but one form of Horned Lark to deal with, 
while 1 am confronted with eleveti. Fortunately a large number of 
these sub-species have never taken it into their horned heads to 
cross into the territory under present consideration, so I am saved 
from puzzling myself and my readers with their diagnosis. 
The true alpestris is found during summer in the region be- 
tween the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Greenland west to Hudson 
Bay, and in winter south to about latitude 35°. It is quite common 
along the New England shores while migrating and in winter. 
The PuAiRiE hloR.vED Lark (O. alpestris praticold) is a smaller 
bird vvith very gray back ; line over eyes white; chin pale yellow. 
This race is found in summer along the upper Mississippi valley 
and Great Lake region, eastward sparingly to Montreal, Vermont, 
and Long Island. It is resident over the greater portion of its 
range, but some few winter south to the Carolinas and Texas. 
