348 
LARKS 
bathe, and sing while on the wing. They are generally colored in 
harmony with their haunts, and, except during the nesting season, are 
usually found in flocks. 
473. Alauda arvensis Linn. Skylark. Hind toe-nail as long as or 
longer than toe. Ads . — Above brownish ochraceous streaked with black; 
tail blackish, central feather margined with ochraceous buff; outer feathers 
more or less white; below whitish more or less washed with ochraceous buff, 
especially on breast, which is distinctly streaked with black. L., 7’50; W., 
4*10; T., 2*60; B., *45. Bears a superficial resemblance to a Vesper Sparrow, 
but, aside from structural differences, is larger and more buffy. 
Range . — Europe and N. Africa; accidental in Greenland and Bermuda 
and introduced into the U. S. 
The Skylark has been introduced several times in this country. In 
1887 a small colony had become established near Flatbush, Long Island, 
where a nest with young was found. (See Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 180.) 
After a supposed extinction a singing bird and nest were observed in 
July, 1895. (See Proctor, Auk , XII, 1895, p. 390.) According to Braislin 
(Abst. Proc. Linn. Soc. 17, 1907, p. 76) the bird is still present at Flat- 
bush where it may be heard singing from March to October. 
474. Otocoris alpestris alpestris* (Linn.). Horned Lark. (Fig. 
60.) Ad. <?. — Forehead, line over the eye, ear region, and throat sulphur- 
yellow; fore part of crown, a tuft of elongated feathers on either side of 
head, a mark from bill below eye and then downward to side of throat, and 
a patch on breast black; back of head and neck and rump vinaceous, more 
or less washed with grayish brown; back grayish brown, edged with brownish 
ash and tinged with vinaceous; wing-coverts deep vinaceous; tail black, 
outer vanes of outer feathers margined with white, middle feathers broadly 
margined with brownish and vinaceous; lower breast and belly white, the 
former more or less soiled with dusky spots; sides vinaceous. Ad. $. — ■ 
Similar, but the markings, especially those of the head, less sharply defined, 
neck less vinaceous, etc. Im. and Ad. in winter. — Similar, but with the 
black markings veiled by yellowish or whitish tips to the feathers. L., 7*75; 
“W., 4*27; T., 2*84; B. from N., *40” (Dwight). 
Range. — E. N. Am. Breeds in Arctic zone of Canada from Boothia 
Peninsula s. to head of James Bay, Lab., and N. F.; winters s. to the Ohio 
Valley and Ga.; casual in La. and Bermuda; accidental in Greenland. 
Washington, common W. V., Oct.-Apl. Ossining, casual W. V. Cam- 
bridge, not uncommon T. V., Oct. 25-Nov. 25; Mch. 25-Apl. 5; occasional 
W. V. N. Ohio, common W. V., Nov. 1-Apl. 1. SE. Minn., W. V. 
Nest, of grasses, on the ground. Eggs, 3-4, pale, bluish or greenish white, 
minutely and evenly speckled with pale grayish brown, *84 x *60. Date , 
Hebron, Lab., May 30. 
These hardy birds visit us in flocks in the winter. They frequent 
the vicinity of the seacoast or large, flat, open tracts in the interior, and 
are rarely found in well-wooded regions. They are terrestrial, and may 
be seen running over the snow or barren ground in scattered companies. 
They take wing with a sharp, whistled note, and seek fresh fields, or, 
hesitating,’ finally swing about and return to near the spot from which 
they were flushed. They are sometimes found associated with Snow- 
*See important papers on the relationships and distribution of the American 
representatives of this genus, by Dr. J. Dwight, Jr., in The Auk, VII, 1890, pp. 138- 
158, and by H. C. Oberholser, Proc. U. S . N. M., XXIV, 1902, pp. 801-883. 
