Illustration: Sturnella magnaSturnella magna.Gen. Char.Body thick, stout; legs large, toes reaching beyond the tail. Tail short, even, with narrow acuminate feathers. Bill slender, elongated; length about three times the height; commissure straight from the basal angle. Culmen flattened basally, extending backwards and parting the frontal feathers; longer than the head, but shorter than tarsus. Nostrils linear, covered by an incumbent membranous scale. Inner lateral toe longer than the outer, but not reaching to basal joint of middle; hind toe a little shorter than the middle, which is equal to the tarsus. Hind claw nearly twice as long as the middle. Feathers of head stiffened and bristly; the shafts of those above extended into a black seta. Tertials nearly equal to the primaries. Feathers above all transversely banded. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent.The only species which we can admit is theS. magna, though under this name we group several geographical races. They may be distinguished as follows:—Species and Varieties.1.S. magna.Above brownish, or grayish, spotted and barred with black; crown divided by a median whitish stripe; side of the head whitish, with a blackish streak along upper edge of the auriculars. Beneath more or less yellowish, with a more or less distinct dusky crescent on the jugulum. Sides, flanks, and crissum whitish, streaked with dusky; lateral tail-feathers partly white.Adult.Supraloral spot, chin, throat, breast, and abdomen deep gamboge-yellow; pectoral crescent deep black.Young.The yellow only indicated; pectoral crescent obsolete. Length, about 9.00 to 10.50 inches. Sexes similar in color, but female much smaller.A.In spring birds, the lateral stripes of the vertex either continuous black, or with black largely predominating; the black spots on the back extending to the tip of the feather, or, if not, the brown tip not barred (except in winter dress). Yellow of the throat confined between the maxillæ, or just barely encroaching upon their lower edge. White of sides, flanks, and crissum strongly tinged with ochraceous.a.Pectoral crescent much more than half an inch wide.Wing, 4.50 to 5.00; culmen, 1.20 to 1.50; tarsus, 1.35 to 1.55; middle toe, 1.10 to 1.26 (extremes of a series of four adult males). Lateral stripe of the crown continuously black; black predominating on back and rump (heavy stripes on ochraceous ground). Light brown serrations on tertials and tail-feathers reaching nearly to the shaft (sometimes the terminal ones uninterrupted, isolating the black bars).Hab.Eastern United States …var.magna.Wing, 3.75 to 4.30; culmen, 1.15 to 1.30; tarsus, 1.50 to 1.75; middle toe, 1.10 to 1.25. (Ten adult males!) Colors similar, but with a greater predominance of black; black heavily prevailing on back and rump, and extending to tip of feathers; also predominates on tertials and tail-feathers.Hab.Mexico and Central America…var.mexicana.[31]Wing, 4.45; culmen, 1.62; tarsus, 1.50; middle toe, 1.20. (One specimen). Colors exactly as in last.Hab.Brazil …var.meridionalis.[32]b.Pectoral crescent much less than half an inch wide.Wing, 3.90 to 4.10; culmen, 1.25 to 1.35; tarsus, 1.40 to 1.55; middle toe, 1.00 to 1.20. (Three adult males.) Colors generally similar tomagna, but crown decidedly streaked, though black predominates; ground-color above less reddish than in either of the preceding, with markings as inmagna. Pectoral crescent about .25 in breadth.Hab.Cuba …var.hippocrepis.[33]B.In spring birds, crown about equally streaked with black and grayish; black spots of back occupying only basal half of feathers, the terminal portion being grayish-brown, with narrow bars of black; feathers of the rump with whole exposed portion thus barred. Yellow of the throat extending over the maxillæ nearly to the angle of the mouth.Wing, 4.40 to 5.05; culmen, 1.18 to 1.40; tarsus, 1.30 to 1.45. (Six adult males.) A grayish-brown tint prevailing above; lesserwing-coverts concolor with the wings (instead of very decidedly more bluish); black bars of tertials and tail-feathers clean, narrow, and isolated. White of sides, flanks, and crissum nearly pure.Hab.Western United States and Western Mexico …var.neglecta.Inmagnaandneglecta, the feathers of the pectoral crescent are generally black to the base, their roots being grayish-white; one specimen of the former, however, from North Carolina, has the roots of the feathers yellow, forbidding the announcement of this as a distinguishing character;mexicanamay have the bases of these feathers either yellow or grayish; whilehippocrepishas only the tips of the feathers black, the whole concealed portion being bright yellow.Inmexicana, there is more of an approach to an orange tint in the yellow than is usually seen inmagna, but specimens from Georgia have a tint not distinguishable; in both, however, as well as inhippocrepis, there is a deeper yellow than inneglecta, in which the tint is more citreous.As regards the bars on tertials and tail, there is considerable variation. Sometimes in either of the species opposed toneglectaby this character there is a tendency to their isolation, seen in the last few toward the ends of the feathers; but never is there an approach to that regularity seen inneglecta, in which they are isolated uniformly everywhere they occur. Two specimens only (54,064 California and 10,316 Pembina) in the entire series ofneglectashow a tendency to a blending of these bars on the tail.Magna,mexicana,meridionalisandhippocrepis, are most similar in coloration;neglectais most dissimilar compared with any of the others. Though each possesses peculiar characters, they are only of degree; for in the most widely different forms (neglectaandmexicana) there is not the slightest departure from the pattern of coloration; it is only a matter of extension or restriction of the several colors, or a certain one of them, that produces the differences.Each modification of plumage is attended by a still greater one of proportions, as will be seen from the diagnoses; thus, thoughneglectais the largest of the group, it has actually the smallest legs and feet; with nearly the same general proportions,magnaexceeds it in the latter respects (especially in the bill), whilemexicana, a very much smaller bird than either, has disproportionally and absolutely larger legs and feet united with the smallest size otherwise in the whole series.Meridionalispresents no differences from the last, except in proportions of bill and feet; for while the latter is the smallest of the series, next toneglecta, it has a bill much exceeding that of any other.The markings of the upper plumage of the young or even winter birds are different in pattern from those of the adult; the tendency being toward the peculiar features of the adultneglecta; the various species in these stages being readily distinguishable, however, by the general characters assigned.Mexicanaandneglectaare both in proportions and colors themost widely different in the whole series;hippocrepisandneglectathe most similar. The relation of the several races to each other is about as follows:—A.Yellow of throat confined within maxillæ.Crown with black streaks predominating.Smallest species, with reddish tints, and maximum amount of black.Largest bill…meridionalis.Smallest bill; largest feet…mexicana.Next largest species, with less reddish tints, and smaller amount of black. Bill and feet the standard of comparison…magnaCrown with the light streaks predominating.Narrowest pectoral crescent…hippocrepisB.Yellow of throat covering maxillæ.Crown with black and light streaks about equal.Largest species, with grayish tints, and minimum amount of black.Smallest feet…neglecta.Sturnella magna,Swainson.MEADOW LARK; OLD FIELD LARK.Alauda magna,Linn.Syst. Nat. I, 1758, 167,ed.10 (based onAlauda magna,Catesby,tab.33).—Ib., (12thed.,) 1766, 289.—Gm.I, 1788, 801.—Wilson,Am. Orn. III, 1811, 20,pl. xix.—Doughty,Cab. I, 1830, 85,pl.V.Sturnella magna,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 436.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 535.—Samuels, 343.Sturnus ludovicianus,Linnæus,Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 290.—Gm.I, 802.—Lath.Ind. I, 1790, 323.—Bon.Obs. Wils.1825, 130.—Licht.Verz.1823,No.165.—Aud.Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 216;V, 1839, 492,pl. cxxxvi.Sturnella ludoviciana,Swainson,F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 282.—Nuttall,Man. I, 1832, 147.—Bon.List, 1838.—Ib.Conspectus, 1850, 429.—Aud.Syn.1839, 148.—Ib.Birds Am. IV, 1842, 70,pl. ccxxiii.—Cabanis,Mus. Hein.1851, 192.—Allen,B. E. Fla.288.Sturnella collaris,Vieill.Analyse, 1816.—Ib.Galerie desOis.I, 1824, 134,pl. xc.Sturnus collaris,Wagler,Syst. Av.1827, 1.—Ib.Isis, 1831, 527. “Cacicus alaudarius,Daudin,”Cabanis.Sp. Char.The feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish-white, and with a terminal blotch of pale reddish-brown. Exposed portions of wings and tail with dark brown bars, which on the middle tail-feathers are confluent along the shaft. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent, the yellow not extending on the side of the maxilla; sides, crissum, and tibiæ pale reddish-brown, streaked with blackish. A light median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow anterior to the eye; a black line behind.Femalesmaller and duller.Youngwith pectoral crescent replaced by streaks; the yellow of under surface replaced more or less by ochraceous or pale fulvous. Length, 10.60; wing, 5.00; tail, 3.70; bill above, 1.35.Hab.Eastern United States to the high Central Plains, north to Southern British Provinces. England (Sclater, Ibis,III, 176).Habits.The eastern form of the Meadow Lark is found in all the eastern portions of the United States, from Florida to Texas at the south, and from Nova Scotia to the Missouri at the north. Richardson met with it on theSaskatchewan, where it arrives about the first of May. In a large portion of the United States it is resident, or only partially migratory.In Maine this species is not abundant. A few are found in Southern Maine, even as far to the east as Calais, where it is very rare. It was not found in Oxford County by Mr. Verrill. In New Hampshire and Vermont, especially in the southern portions, it is much more abundant. Throughout Massachusetts it is a common summer visitant, a few remaining all winter, the greater number coming in March and leaving again in November, at which time they seem to be somewhat, though only partially, gregarious. South of Massachusetts it becomes more generally resident, and is only very partially migratory, where the depth of snow compels them to seek food elsewhere. Wilson states that he met a few of these birds in the month of February, during a deep snow, among the heights of the Alleghanies, near Somerset,Penn.The favorite resorts of this species are old fields, pasture-lands, and meadows, localities in which they can best procure the insects, largely coleopterous, and the seeds on which they feed. They are not found in woods or thickets, or only in very exceptional cases.In New England they are shy, retiring birds, and are rarely seen in the neighborhood of houses; but in Georgia and South Carolina, Wilson found them swarming among the rice plantations, and running about in the yards and the out-buildings, in company with the Killdeer Plovers, with little or no appearance of fear, and as if domesticated.In Alabama and West Florida, Mr. Nuttall states, the birds abound during the winter months, and may be seen in considerable numbers in the salt marshes, seeking their food and the shelter of the sea-coast. They are then in loose flocks of from ten to thirty. At this season many are shot and brought to market. By some their flesh is said to be sweet and good; but this is denied by Audubon, who states it to be tough and of unpleasant flavor.Mr. Sclater records the occurrence of one or more individuals of this species in England.The song of the eastern Meadow Lark is chiefly distinguished for its sweetness more than any other excellence. When, in spring, at the height of their love-season, they alight on the post of a fence, a bush, or tree, or any other high object, they will give utterance to notes that, in sweetness and tenderness of expression, are surpassed by very few of our birds. But they are wanting in variety and power, and are frequently varied, but not improved, by the substitution of chattering call-notes, which are much inferior in quality. It is noticeable that at the West there is a very great improvement in the song of this bird as compared with that of their more eastern kindred, though still very far from equalling, either in volume, variety, or power, the remarkable song of theneglecta.In the fall of the year these birds collect in small companies, and feed together in the same localities, but keeping, individually, somewhat apart.In New England these birds mate during the latter part of April, and construct their nests in May. They always place their nest on the ground, usually in the shelter of a thick tuft of grass, and build a covered passage to their hidden nest. This entrance is usually formed of withered grass, and so well conceals the nest that it can only be detected by flushing the female from it, or by the anxiety of her mate, who will frequently fly round the spot in so narrow a circuit as to betray its location.The eggs of the Meadow Lark vary greatly in size and also in their markings, though the general character of the latter is the same. The smallest, from Florida, measure .95 by .68 of an inch. The largest, from Massachusetts, measure 1.20 inches by .90. They have a white ground, marked and dotted with irregular reddish-brown spots. Generally these are equally distributed, but occasionally are chiefly about the larger end. Their shape is oval, nearly equally rounded at either end.The diversity in the characteristics of the eggs of this species has not unfrequently occasioned remarks, and even suggested conjectures as to specific differences. They are all, however, reconcilable with differences in the age of the parents, and are, to some extent, affected by the circumstances under which they are deposited. The eggs of old, mature birds, deposited in the early summer, or the first brood, are usually sub-globular or obtusely pointed at either end, large in size, and irregularly sprinkled over with fine bright red dots. Younger birds, breeding for the first time, birds that have been robbed of their eggs, or those depositing a third set, have smaller eggs, sometimes two thirds of the maximum size, more oblong and more pointed at one end, and are marked, at the larger end only, with plashes of dark purplish-brown.Sturnella magna,var.neglecta,Aud.WESTERN LARK.Sturnella neglecta,Or. Route; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI,IV, 1857, 86.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 537.—Heerm.X, S, 54.—Cooper & Suckley, 208.—Cooper,Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 270.? Sturnella hippocrepis, (Wagler,)Heermann,J. A. N. Sc. Ph.2dseries,II, 1853, 269, Suisun.Sp. Char.Feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish-white, with a terminal blotch of pale reddish-brown. Exposed portion of wings and tail with transverse bands, which, in the latter, are completely isolated from each other, narrow and linear. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent. The yellow of the throat extending on the sides of the maxilla. Sides, crissum, and tibiæ very pale reddish-brown, or nearly white, streaked with blackish. Head with a light median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow in front of the eye; a blackish line behind it. The transverse bars on the feathers above (less so on the tail) with a tendency to become confluent near the exterior margin. Length, 10 inches; wing, 5.25; tail, 3.25; bill, 1.25.Hab.Western America from high Central Plains to the Pacific; east to Pembina, and perhaps to Wisconsin, on the north (Iowa, Allen), and Texas on the south; western Mexico, south to Colima.Illustration: Color plate 34PLATEXXXIV.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 11.Sturnella neglecta.♂Nevada, 53592.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 22.Sturnella magna.♂Pa., 1303.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 33.Icterus bullocki.♂Ft.Bridger, 11282.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 44.Icterus spurius.♂La., 4286.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 55.Icterus spurius.♂juv.Pa., 1437.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 66.Icterus spurius.♀Pa., 150.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 77.Icterus bullocki.♀Cal., 3900.Habits.The differences of plumage between this species and our eastern Meadow Lark are so slight that we might hesitate to allow the existence of any specific distinctness between the two forms, were it not for the very strongly marked differences between them in other respects. Whether we regard them as races or as different species, their history diverges as we cross the Missouri River, though both are found on either bank.The existence of this variety was first made known by Messrs. Lewis and Clark, in their memorable expedition to the Rocky Mountains. They refer especially to the difference, in the notes, between this bird and the old Field Lark of the east. It remained unnoticed by our ornithologists until 1844, when Mr. Audubon included it in the appendix to his seventh volume. He met with it in his voyage to the Yellowstone, and it would have escaped his notice had not the attention of his party been called to its curious notes. In its flight, manners on the ground, or general habits, he could perceive no difference between it and the common species. None of its nests that he found were covered over, in the manner of themagna, and the eggs were differently marked.Mr. J. A. Allen, in his interesting paper on the birds observed in Western Iowa, while he does not admit any specific difference between these two forms, presents with impartial exactness the very striking dissimilarity between them, both in habits and in song. In regard to the diversity in habits we quote his words:—“At the little village of Denison, where I first noticed it in song, it was particularly common, and half domestic in its habits, preferring the streets and grassy lanes, and the immediate vicinity of the village, to the remoter prairie. Here, wholly unmolested and unsuspicious, it collected its food; and the males, from their accustomed perches on the housetops, daily warbled their wild songs for hours together.” These traits of familiarity, so totally different from anything ever observed in our eastern birds, he does not concede, however, as establishing necessarily specific difference. Yet he does admit that its song was so new to him that he did not at first have the slightest suspicion that its utterer was the western Meadow Lark, as he found it to be. He adds: “It differs from that of the Meadow Lark in the Eastern States, in the notes being louder and wilder, and at the same time more liquid, mellower, and far sweeter. They have a pensiveness and a general character remarkably in harmony with the half-dreamy wildness of the primitive prairie, as though the bird had received from its surroundings their peculiar impress. It differs, too, in the less frequency of the harsh, complaining chatter so conspicuous in the eastern bird.”The value of these marked differences, both in song and character, between the eastern and western birds, we will not argue, but will only add that they are none too strikingly presented by Mr. Allen. During the writer’s brief visit to the Plains he was strongly impressed by the natural, confiding trustfulness of this species and its wonderful beauty of song, both insuch remarkable contrast with the habits of our eastern birds. At Antelope Station a pair of these birds had built their nest under the window of the office, and seemed to enjoy the society of the family, while the depot-master, familiar with the song and habits of our eastern birds, appreciated the great differences between the two forms, and called my attention to them.Mr. Allen also found this Lark everywhere abundant in Colorado, but its notes appeared to him quite different from those of the representatives of this species living to the eastward, in the prairie States, being less varied and ringing, and more guttural.Dr. Cooper says this bird is abundant in California, and resident nearly throughout the entire State, breeding in the Colorado Valley and in all other districts not quite waterless. Their songs are lively, sweet, and varied. They sing at all seasons, early and late, from the ground, from the tree-top, or in the air, and when unmolested are so tame as to make the house-top their favorite perch. Even the female has considerable musical power, and cheers her mate by singing to him while he relieves her by sitting on the eggs. She also has a harsh, petulant chirp, frequently repeated as if in anger. He states that they build their nest in a slight depression under a bunch of grass, and usually more or less arched over and artfully concealed. The female, when flushed, usually skulks off some distance before she flies. The eggs he describes as white, with a few large purplish-brown blotches and dots towards the larger end, and measuring 1.15 inches by .85. They are very obtuse in shape.They feed chiefly on insects, seeds, and grain, do no damage to the crops, and destroy a vast number of noxious insects.Dr. Suckley found this bird common everywhere in Oregon and Washington Territory, some remaining throughout every winter. In 1855 a few were seen at Fort Dalles as early as March 5. On the 7th he found them quite abundant on the ploughed fields near Fort Vancouver. Some of these had probably remained all the winter. In February, 1856, he found them quite abundant at Fort Steilacoom. At Fort Dalles, by the2dof May, he obtained young birds nearly fledged.Mr. Dresser found it very common during winter near San Antonio, where a few remain to breed.In Arizona, according to Dr. Coues, it is resident, but quite rare.Lieutenant Couch found these birds from the Rio Grande to the high bottoms of the Lower Bolson de Mapimi. Its notes he speaks of as highly musical, contending even with the Mocking Bird for a supremacy in song.Mr. Ridgway found the western Meadow Lark one of the most abundant and characteristic birds of California and all fertile portions of the interior as far east as the Missouri, and remarks that, although closely resembling the eastern bird in appearance, its song is totally different, not a note uttered by it having more than a very distant resemblance to any of the well-knownmagnaof the eastern meadows. In the depth of its tone and the charmsof its articulation its song is hardly excelled, resembling very nearly the song of the Wood Thrush. Mr. Ridgway describes its modulations as expressed by the syllablestung-tung-tungah-til’lah-til’lah-tung, each note powerful and distinct. The difference between the other notes of the two birds is still greater than in their song, and even in character these are not alike. In theneglectathe call-note of watchfulness or alarm is a loud, deep-tonedtuck, similar to thechuckof the Blackbird, but much louder and more metallic. That of sympathy for the young, or anxiety when the nest is approached, is a loud, liquidtyur, slightly resembling the complaining note of the eastern Bluebird, and also of the Orchard Oriole. All of its notes are of a power corresponding to the size of the bird.Mr. Ridgway also notices important differences in their flight. That of the eastern species is carried on by an occasional spasmodic beat or jerk of the wings, which are then extended, the bird sailing a short distance. The flight of the western Lark is much more irregular, the bird flitting along by a trembling flutter of the wings, never assuming these peculiar features.An egg of this species, collected by Dr. Cooper in Washington Territory, June 19, 1856, measures 1.20 inches in length and .86 in breadth. It is of an oblong-oval shape, obtuse; the ground white, sparingly spotted with a very dark purple, most of the markings being at the larger end. Three eggs from Arizona, collected by Dr. Palmer, measure 1.10 inches by .80. The markings are of much lighter shades of lilac, purple, and purplish and reddish-brown. The markings are more generally diffused, but predominate at the larger end. An egg from the Yellowstone, collected by Mr. Audubon, is unusually pointed at one end, measures 1.13 inches by .82. The spots are a dark purplish-brown, intermingled with smaller and lighter dottings of reddish-brown. Eggs from California do not vary essentially in their markings from those of Arizona, and have an average measurement of 1.10 inches by .85. As a general rule, the mottling of the eggs of the western bird is finer than that of the eastern.
Illustration: Sturnella magnaSturnella magna.Gen. Char.Body thick, stout; legs large, toes reaching beyond the tail. Tail short, even, with narrow acuminate feathers. Bill slender, elongated; length about three times the height; commissure straight from the basal angle. Culmen flattened basally, extending backwards and parting the frontal feathers; longer than the head, but shorter than tarsus. Nostrils linear, covered by an incumbent membranous scale. Inner lateral toe longer than the outer, but not reaching to basal joint of middle; hind toe a little shorter than the middle, which is equal to the tarsus. Hind claw nearly twice as long as the middle. Feathers of head stiffened and bristly; the shafts of those above extended into a black seta. Tertials nearly equal to the primaries. Feathers above all transversely banded. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent.The only species which we can admit is theS. magna, though under this name we group several geographical races. They may be distinguished as follows:—Species and Varieties.1.S. magna.Above brownish, or grayish, spotted and barred with black; crown divided by a median whitish stripe; side of the head whitish, with a blackish streak along upper edge of the auriculars. Beneath more or less yellowish, with a more or less distinct dusky crescent on the jugulum. Sides, flanks, and crissum whitish, streaked with dusky; lateral tail-feathers partly white.Adult.Supraloral spot, chin, throat, breast, and abdomen deep gamboge-yellow; pectoral crescent deep black.Young.The yellow only indicated; pectoral crescent obsolete. Length, about 9.00 to 10.50 inches. Sexes similar in color, but female much smaller.A.In spring birds, the lateral stripes of the vertex either continuous black, or with black largely predominating; the black spots on the back extending to the tip of the feather, or, if not, the brown tip not barred (except in winter dress). Yellow of the throat confined between the maxillæ, or just barely encroaching upon their lower edge. White of sides, flanks, and crissum strongly tinged with ochraceous.a.Pectoral crescent much more than half an inch wide.Wing, 4.50 to 5.00; culmen, 1.20 to 1.50; tarsus, 1.35 to 1.55; middle toe, 1.10 to 1.26 (extremes of a series of four adult males). Lateral stripe of the crown continuously black; black predominating on back and rump (heavy stripes on ochraceous ground). Light brown serrations on tertials and tail-feathers reaching nearly to the shaft (sometimes the terminal ones uninterrupted, isolating the black bars).Hab.Eastern United States …var.magna.Wing, 3.75 to 4.30; culmen, 1.15 to 1.30; tarsus, 1.50 to 1.75; middle toe, 1.10 to 1.25. (Ten adult males!) Colors similar, but with a greater predominance of black; black heavily prevailing on back and rump, and extending to tip of feathers; also predominates on tertials and tail-feathers.Hab.Mexico and Central America…var.mexicana.[31]Wing, 4.45; culmen, 1.62; tarsus, 1.50; middle toe, 1.20. (One specimen). Colors exactly as in last.Hab.Brazil …var.meridionalis.[32]b.Pectoral crescent much less than half an inch wide.Wing, 3.90 to 4.10; culmen, 1.25 to 1.35; tarsus, 1.40 to 1.55; middle toe, 1.00 to 1.20. (Three adult males.) Colors generally similar tomagna, but crown decidedly streaked, though black predominates; ground-color above less reddish than in either of the preceding, with markings as inmagna. Pectoral crescent about .25 in breadth.Hab.Cuba …var.hippocrepis.[33]B.In spring birds, crown about equally streaked with black and grayish; black spots of back occupying only basal half of feathers, the terminal portion being grayish-brown, with narrow bars of black; feathers of the rump with whole exposed portion thus barred. Yellow of the throat extending over the maxillæ nearly to the angle of the mouth.Wing, 4.40 to 5.05; culmen, 1.18 to 1.40; tarsus, 1.30 to 1.45. (Six adult males.) A grayish-brown tint prevailing above; lesserwing-coverts concolor with the wings (instead of very decidedly more bluish); black bars of tertials and tail-feathers clean, narrow, and isolated. White of sides, flanks, and crissum nearly pure.Hab.Western United States and Western Mexico …var.neglecta.Inmagnaandneglecta, the feathers of the pectoral crescent are generally black to the base, their roots being grayish-white; one specimen of the former, however, from North Carolina, has the roots of the feathers yellow, forbidding the announcement of this as a distinguishing character;mexicanamay have the bases of these feathers either yellow or grayish; whilehippocrepishas only the tips of the feathers black, the whole concealed portion being bright yellow.Inmexicana, there is more of an approach to an orange tint in the yellow than is usually seen inmagna, but specimens from Georgia have a tint not distinguishable; in both, however, as well as inhippocrepis, there is a deeper yellow than inneglecta, in which the tint is more citreous.As regards the bars on tertials and tail, there is considerable variation. Sometimes in either of the species opposed toneglectaby this character there is a tendency to their isolation, seen in the last few toward the ends of the feathers; but never is there an approach to that regularity seen inneglecta, in which they are isolated uniformly everywhere they occur. Two specimens only (54,064 California and 10,316 Pembina) in the entire series ofneglectashow a tendency to a blending of these bars on the tail.Magna,mexicana,meridionalisandhippocrepis, are most similar in coloration;neglectais most dissimilar compared with any of the others. Though each possesses peculiar characters, they are only of degree; for in the most widely different forms (neglectaandmexicana) there is not the slightest departure from the pattern of coloration; it is only a matter of extension or restriction of the several colors, or a certain one of them, that produces the differences.Each modification of plumage is attended by a still greater one of proportions, as will be seen from the diagnoses; thus, thoughneglectais the largest of the group, it has actually the smallest legs and feet; with nearly the same general proportions,magnaexceeds it in the latter respects (especially in the bill), whilemexicana, a very much smaller bird than either, has disproportionally and absolutely larger legs and feet united with the smallest size otherwise in the whole series.Meridionalispresents no differences from the last, except in proportions of bill and feet; for while the latter is the smallest of the series, next toneglecta, it has a bill much exceeding that of any other.The markings of the upper plumage of the young or even winter birds are different in pattern from those of the adult; the tendency being toward the peculiar features of the adultneglecta; the various species in these stages being readily distinguishable, however, by the general characters assigned.Mexicanaandneglectaare both in proportions and colors themost widely different in the whole series;hippocrepisandneglectathe most similar. The relation of the several races to each other is about as follows:—A.Yellow of throat confined within maxillæ.Crown with black streaks predominating.Smallest species, with reddish tints, and maximum amount of black.Largest bill…meridionalis.Smallest bill; largest feet…mexicana.Next largest species, with less reddish tints, and smaller amount of black. Bill and feet the standard of comparison…magnaCrown with the light streaks predominating.Narrowest pectoral crescent…hippocrepisB.Yellow of throat covering maxillæ.Crown with black and light streaks about equal.Largest species, with grayish tints, and minimum amount of black.Smallest feet…neglecta.Sturnella magna,Swainson.MEADOW LARK; OLD FIELD LARK.Alauda magna,Linn.Syst. Nat. I, 1758, 167,ed.10 (based onAlauda magna,Catesby,tab.33).—Ib., (12thed.,) 1766, 289.—Gm.I, 1788, 801.—Wilson,Am. Orn. III, 1811, 20,pl. xix.—Doughty,Cab. I, 1830, 85,pl.V.Sturnella magna,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 436.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 535.—Samuels, 343.Sturnus ludovicianus,Linnæus,Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 290.—Gm.I, 802.—Lath.Ind. I, 1790, 323.—Bon.Obs. Wils.1825, 130.—Licht.Verz.1823,No.165.—Aud.Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 216;V, 1839, 492,pl. cxxxvi.Sturnella ludoviciana,Swainson,F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 282.—Nuttall,Man. I, 1832, 147.—Bon.List, 1838.—Ib.Conspectus, 1850, 429.—Aud.Syn.1839, 148.—Ib.Birds Am. IV, 1842, 70,pl. ccxxiii.—Cabanis,Mus. Hein.1851, 192.—Allen,B. E. Fla.288.Sturnella collaris,Vieill.Analyse, 1816.—Ib.Galerie desOis.I, 1824, 134,pl. xc.Sturnus collaris,Wagler,Syst. Av.1827, 1.—Ib.Isis, 1831, 527. “Cacicus alaudarius,Daudin,”Cabanis.Sp. Char.The feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish-white, and with a terminal blotch of pale reddish-brown. Exposed portions of wings and tail with dark brown bars, which on the middle tail-feathers are confluent along the shaft. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent, the yellow not extending on the side of the maxilla; sides, crissum, and tibiæ pale reddish-brown, streaked with blackish. A light median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow anterior to the eye; a black line behind.Femalesmaller and duller.Youngwith pectoral crescent replaced by streaks; the yellow of under surface replaced more or less by ochraceous or pale fulvous. Length, 10.60; wing, 5.00; tail, 3.70; bill above, 1.35.Hab.Eastern United States to the high Central Plains, north to Southern British Provinces. England (Sclater, Ibis,III, 176).Habits.The eastern form of the Meadow Lark is found in all the eastern portions of the United States, from Florida to Texas at the south, and from Nova Scotia to the Missouri at the north. Richardson met with it on theSaskatchewan, where it arrives about the first of May. In a large portion of the United States it is resident, or only partially migratory.In Maine this species is not abundant. A few are found in Southern Maine, even as far to the east as Calais, where it is very rare. It was not found in Oxford County by Mr. Verrill. In New Hampshire and Vermont, especially in the southern portions, it is much more abundant. Throughout Massachusetts it is a common summer visitant, a few remaining all winter, the greater number coming in March and leaving again in November, at which time they seem to be somewhat, though only partially, gregarious. South of Massachusetts it becomes more generally resident, and is only very partially migratory, where the depth of snow compels them to seek food elsewhere. Wilson states that he met a few of these birds in the month of February, during a deep snow, among the heights of the Alleghanies, near Somerset,Penn.The favorite resorts of this species are old fields, pasture-lands, and meadows, localities in which they can best procure the insects, largely coleopterous, and the seeds on which they feed. They are not found in woods or thickets, or only in very exceptional cases.In New England they are shy, retiring birds, and are rarely seen in the neighborhood of houses; but in Georgia and South Carolina, Wilson found them swarming among the rice plantations, and running about in the yards and the out-buildings, in company with the Killdeer Plovers, with little or no appearance of fear, and as if domesticated.In Alabama and West Florida, Mr. Nuttall states, the birds abound during the winter months, and may be seen in considerable numbers in the salt marshes, seeking their food and the shelter of the sea-coast. They are then in loose flocks of from ten to thirty. At this season many are shot and brought to market. By some their flesh is said to be sweet and good; but this is denied by Audubon, who states it to be tough and of unpleasant flavor.Mr. Sclater records the occurrence of one or more individuals of this species in England.The song of the eastern Meadow Lark is chiefly distinguished for its sweetness more than any other excellence. When, in spring, at the height of their love-season, they alight on the post of a fence, a bush, or tree, or any other high object, they will give utterance to notes that, in sweetness and tenderness of expression, are surpassed by very few of our birds. But they are wanting in variety and power, and are frequently varied, but not improved, by the substitution of chattering call-notes, which are much inferior in quality. It is noticeable that at the West there is a very great improvement in the song of this bird as compared with that of their more eastern kindred, though still very far from equalling, either in volume, variety, or power, the remarkable song of theneglecta.In the fall of the year these birds collect in small companies, and feed together in the same localities, but keeping, individually, somewhat apart.In New England these birds mate during the latter part of April, and construct their nests in May. They always place their nest on the ground, usually in the shelter of a thick tuft of grass, and build a covered passage to their hidden nest. This entrance is usually formed of withered grass, and so well conceals the nest that it can only be detected by flushing the female from it, or by the anxiety of her mate, who will frequently fly round the spot in so narrow a circuit as to betray its location.The eggs of the Meadow Lark vary greatly in size and also in their markings, though the general character of the latter is the same. The smallest, from Florida, measure .95 by .68 of an inch. The largest, from Massachusetts, measure 1.20 inches by .90. They have a white ground, marked and dotted with irregular reddish-brown spots. Generally these are equally distributed, but occasionally are chiefly about the larger end. Their shape is oval, nearly equally rounded at either end.The diversity in the characteristics of the eggs of this species has not unfrequently occasioned remarks, and even suggested conjectures as to specific differences. They are all, however, reconcilable with differences in the age of the parents, and are, to some extent, affected by the circumstances under which they are deposited. The eggs of old, mature birds, deposited in the early summer, or the first brood, are usually sub-globular or obtusely pointed at either end, large in size, and irregularly sprinkled over with fine bright red dots. Younger birds, breeding for the first time, birds that have been robbed of their eggs, or those depositing a third set, have smaller eggs, sometimes two thirds of the maximum size, more oblong and more pointed at one end, and are marked, at the larger end only, with plashes of dark purplish-brown.Sturnella magna,var.neglecta,Aud.WESTERN LARK.Sturnella neglecta,Or. Route; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI,IV, 1857, 86.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 537.—Heerm.X, S, 54.—Cooper & Suckley, 208.—Cooper,Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 270.? Sturnella hippocrepis, (Wagler,)Heermann,J. A. N. Sc. Ph.2dseries,II, 1853, 269, Suisun.Sp. Char.Feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish-white, with a terminal blotch of pale reddish-brown. Exposed portion of wings and tail with transverse bands, which, in the latter, are completely isolated from each other, narrow and linear. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent. The yellow of the throat extending on the sides of the maxilla. Sides, crissum, and tibiæ very pale reddish-brown, or nearly white, streaked with blackish. Head with a light median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow in front of the eye; a blackish line behind it. The transverse bars on the feathers above (less so on the tail) with a tendency to become confluent near the exterior margin. Length, 10 inches; wing, 5.25; tail, 3.25; bill, 1.25.Hab.Western America from high Central Plains to the Pacific; east to Pembina, and perhaps to Wisconsin, on the north (Iowa, Allen), and Texas on the south; western Mexico, south to Colima.Illustration: Color plate 34PLATEXXXIV.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 11.Sturnella neglecta.♂Nevada, 53592.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 22.Sturnella magna.♂Pa., 1303.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 33.Icterus bullocki.♂Ft.Bridger, 11282.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 44.Icterus spurius.♂La., 4286.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 55.Icterus spurius.♂juv.Pa., 1437.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 66.Icterus spurius.♀Pa., 150.Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 77.Icterus bullocki.♀Cal., 3900.Habits.The differences of plumage between this species and our eastern Meadow Lark are so slight that we might hesitate to allow the existence of any specific distinctness between the two forms, were it not for the very strongly marked differences between them in other respects. Whether we regard them as races or as different species, their history diverges as we cross the Missouri River, though both are found on either bank.The existence of this variety was first made known by Messrs. Lewis and Clark, in their memorable expedition to the Rocky Mountains. They refer especially to the difference, in the notes, between this bird and the old Field Lark of the east. It remained unnoticed by our ornithologists until 1844, when Mr. Audubon included it in the appendix to his seventh volume. He met with it in his voyage to the Yellowstone, and it would have escaped his notice had not the attention of his party been called to its curious notes. In its flight, manners on the ground, or general habits, he could perceive no difference between it and the common species. None of its nests that he found were covered over, in the manner of themagna, and the eggs were differently marked.Mr. J. A. Allen, in his interesting paper on the birds observed in Western Iowa, while he does not admit any specific difference between these two forms, presents with impartial exactness the very striking dissimilarity between them, both in habits and in song. In regard to the diversity in habits we quote his words:—“At the little village of Denison, where I first noticed it in song, it was particularly common, and half domestic in its habits, preferring the streets and grassy lanes, and the immediate vicinity of the village, to the remoter prairie. Here, wholly unmolested and unsuspicious, it collected its food; and the males, from their accustomed perches on the housetops, daily warbled their wild songs for hours together.” These traits of familiarity, so totally different from anything ever observed in our eastern birds, he does not concede, however, as establishing necessarily specific difference. Yet he does admit that its song was so new to him that he did not at first have the slightest suspicion that its utterer was the western Meadow Lark, as he found it to be. He adds: “It differs from that of the Meadow Lark in the Eastern States, in the notes being louder and wilder, and at the same time more liquid, mellower, and far sweeter. They have a pensiveness and a general character remarkably in harmony with the half-dreamy wildness of the primitive prairie, as though the bird had received from its surroundings their peculiar impress. It differs, too, in the less frequency of the harsh, complaining chatter so conspicuous in the eastern bird.”The value of these marked differences, both in song and character, between the eastern and western birds, we will not argue, but will only add that they are none too strikingly presented by Mr. Allen. During the writer’s brief visit to the Plains he was strongly impressed by the natural, confiding trustfulness of this species and its wonderful beauty of song, both insuch remarkable contrast with the habits of our eastern birds. At Antelope Station a pair of these birds had built their nest under the window of the office, and seemed to enjoy the society of the family, while the depot-master, familiar with the song and habits of our eastern birds, appreciated the great differences between the two forms, and called my attention to them.Mr. Allen also found this Lark everywhere abundant in Colorado, but its notes appeared to him quite different from those of the representatives of this species living to the eastward, in the prairie States, being less varied and ringing, and more guttural.Dr. Cooper says this bird is abundant in California, and resident nearly throughout the entire State, breeding in the Colorado Valley and in all other districts not quite waterless. Their songs are lively, sweet, and varied. They sing at all seasons, early and late, from the ground, from the tree-top, or in the air, and when unmolested are so tame as to make the house-top their favorite perch. Even the female has considerable musical power, and cheers her mate by singing to him while he relieves her by sitting on the eggs. She also has a harsh, petulant chirp, frequently repeated as if in anger. He states that they build their nest in a slight depression under a bunch of grass, and usually more or less arched over and artfully concealed. The female, when flushed, usually skulks off some distance before she flies. The eggs he describes as white, with a few large purplish-brown blotches and dots towards the larger end, and measuring 1.15 inches by .85. They are very obtuse in shape.They feed chiefly on insects, seeds, and grain, do no damage to the crops, and destroy a vast number of noxious insects.Dr. Suckley found this bird common everywhere in Oregon and Washington Territory, some remaining throughout every winter. In 1855 a few were seen at Fort Dalles as early as March 5. On the 7th he found them quite abundant on the ploughed fields near Fort Vancouver. Some of these had probably remained all the winter. In February, 1856, he found them quite abundant at Fort Steilacoom. At Fort Dalles, by the2dof May, he obtained young birds nearly fledged.Mr. Dresser found it very common during winter near San Antonio, where a few remain to breed.In Arizona, according to Dr. Coues, it is resident, but quite rare.Lieutenant Couch found these birds from the Rio Grande to the high bottoms of the Lower Bolson de Mapimi. Its notes he speaks of as highly musical, contending even with the Mocking Bird for a supremacy in song.Mr. Ridgway found the western Meadow Lark one of the most abundant and characteristic birds of California and all fertile portions of the interior as far east as the Missouri, and remarks that, although closely resembling the eastern bird in appearance, its song is totally different, not a note uttered by it having more than a very distant resemblance to any of the well-knownmagnaof the eastern meadows. In the depth of its tone and the charmsof its articulation its song is hardly excelled, resembling very nearly the song of the Wood Thrush. Mr. Ridgway describes its modulations as expressed by the syllablestung-tung-tungah-til’lah-til’lah-tung, each note powerful and distinct. The difference between the other notes of the two birds is still greater than in their song, and even in character these are not alike. In theneglectathe call-note of watchfulness or alarm is a loud, deep-tonedtuck, similar to thechuckof the Blackbird, but much louder and more metallic. That of sympathy for the young, or anxiety when the nest is approached, is a loud, liquidtyur, slightly resembling the complaining note of the eastern Bluebird, and also of the Orchard Oriole. All of its notes are of a power corresponding to the size of the bird.Mr. Ridgway also notices important differences in their flight. That of the eastern species is carried on by an occasional spasmodic beat or jerk of the wings, which are then extended, the bird sailing a short distance. The flight of the western Lark is much more irregular, the bird flitting along by a trembling flutter of the wings, never assuming these peculiar features.An egg of this species, collected by Dr. Cooper in Washington Territory, June 19, 1856, measures 1.20 inches in length and .86 in breadth. It is of an oblong-oval shape, obtuse; the ground white, sparingly spotted with a very dark purple, most of the markings being at the larger end. Three eggs from Arizona, collected by Dr. Palmer, measure 1.10 inches by .80. The markings are of much lighter shades of lilac, purple, and purplish and reddish-brown. The markings are more generally diffused, but predominate at the larger end. An egg from the Yellowstone, collected by Mr. Audubon, is unusually pointed at one end, measures 1.13 inches by .82. The spots are a dark purplish-brown, intermingled with smaller and lighter dottings of reddish-brown. Eggs from California do not vary essentially in their markings from those of Arizona, and have an average measurement of 1.10 inches by .85. As a general rule, the mottling of the eggs of the western bird is finer than that of the eastern.
Illustration: Sturnella magnaSturnella magna.
Sturnella magna.
Gen. Char.Body thick, stout; legs large, toes reaching beyond the tail. Tail short, even, with narrow acuminate feathers. Bill slender, elongated; length about three times the height; commissure straight from the basal angle. Culmen flattened basally, extending backwards and parting the frontal feathers; longer than the head, but shorter than tarsus. Nostrils linear, covered by an incumbent membranous scale. Inner lateral toe longer than the outer, but not reaching to basal joint of middle; hind toe a little shorter than the middle, which is equal to the tarsus. Hind claw nearly twice as long as the middle. Feathers of head stiffened and bristly; the shafts of those above extended into a black seta. Tertials nearly equal to the primaries. Feathers above all transversely banded. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent.
The only species which we can admit is theS. magna, though under this name we group several geographical races. They may be distinguished as follows:—
Species and Varieties.
1.S. magna.Above brownish, or grayish, spotted and barred with black; crown divided by a median whitish stripe; side of the head whitish, with a blackish streak along upper edge of the auriculars. Beneath more or less yellowish, with a more or less distinct dusky crescent on the jugulum. Sides, flanks, and crissum whitish, streaked with dusky; lateral tail-feathers partly white.Adult.Supraloral spot, chin, throat, breast, and abdomen deep gamboge-yellow; pectoral crescent deep black.Young.The yellow only indicated; pectoral crescent obsolete. Length, about 9.00 to 10.50 inches. Sexes similar in color, but female much smaller.
A.In spring birds, the lateral stripes of the vertex either continuous black, or with black largely predominating; the black spots on the back extending to the tip of the feather, or, if not, the brown tip not barred (except in winter dress). Yellow of the throat confined between the maxillæ, or just barely encroaching upon their lower edge. White of sides, flanks, and crissum strongly tinged with ochraceous.
a.Pectoral crescent much more than half an inch wide.
Wing, 4.50 to 5.00; culmen, 1.20 to 1.50; tarsus, 1.35 to 1.55; middle toe, 1.10 to 1.26 (extremes of a series of four adult males). Lateral stripe of the crown continuously black; black predominating on back and rump (heavy stripes on ochraceous ground). Light brown serrations on tertials and tail-feathers reaching nearly to the shaft (sometimes the terminal ones uninterrupted, isolating the black bars).Hab.Eastern United States …var.magna.
Wing, 3.75 to 4.30; culmen, 1.15 to 1.30; tarsus, 1.50 to 1.75; middle toe, 1.10 to 1.25. (Ten adult males!) Colors similar, but with a greater predominance of black; black heavily prevailing on back and rump, and extending to tip of feathers; also predominates on tertials and tail-feathers.Hab.Mexico and Central America…var.mexicana.[31]
Wing, 4.45; culmen, 1.62; tarsus, 1.50; middle toe, 1.20. (One specimen). Colors exactly as in last.Hab.Brazil …var.meridionalis.[32]
b.Pectoral crescent much less than half an inch wide.
Wing, 3.90 to 4.10; culmen, 1.25 to 1.35; tarsus, 1.40 to 1.55; middle toe, 1.00 to 1.20. (Three adult males.) Colors generally similar tomagna, but crown decidedly streaked, though black predominates; ground-color above less reddish than in either of the preceding, with markings as inmagna. Pectoral crescent about .25 in breadth.Hab.Cuba …var.hippocrepis.[33]
B.In spring birds, crown about equally streaked with black and grayish; black spots of back occupying only basal half of feathers, the terminal portion being grayish-brown, with narrow bars of black; feathers of the rump with whole exposed portion thus barred. Yellow of the throat extending over the maxillæ nearly to the angle of the mouth.
Wing, 4.40 to 5.05; culmen, 1.18 to 1.40; tarsus, 1.30 to 1.45. (Six adult males.) A grayish-brown tint prevailing above; lesserwing-coverts concolor with the wings (instead of very decidedly more bluish); black bars of tertials and tail-feathers clean, narrow, and isolated. White of sides, flanks, and crissum nearly pure.Hab.Western United States and Western Mexico …var.neglecta.
Inmagnaandneglecta, the feathers of the pectoral crescent are generally black to the base, their roots being grayish-white; one specimen of the former, however, from North Carolina, has the roots of the feathers yellow, forbidding the announcement of this as a distinguishing character;mexicanamay have the bases of these feathers either yellow or grayish; whilehippocrepishas only the tips of the feathers black, the whole concealed portion being bright yellow.
Inmexicana, there is more of an approach to an orange tint in the yellow than is usually seen inmagna, but specimens from Georgia have a tint not distinguishable; in both, however, as well as inhippocrepis, there is a deeper yellow than inneglecta, in which the tint is more citreous.
As regards the bars on tertials and tail, there is considerable variation. Sometimes in either of the species opposed toneglectaby this character there is a tendency to their isolation, seen in the last few toward the ends of the feathers; but never is there an approach to that regularity seen inneglecta, in which they are isolated uniformly everywhere they occur. Two specimens only (54,064 California and 10,316 Pembina) in the entire series ofneglectashow a tendency to a blending of these bars on the tail.
Magna,mexicana,meridionalisandhippocrepis, are most similar in coloration;neglectais most dissimilar compared with any of the others. Though each possesses peculiar characters, they are only of degree; for in the most widely different forms (neglectaandmexicana) there is not the slightest departure from the pattern of coloration; it is only a matter of extension or restriction of the several colors, or a certain one of them, that produces the differences.
Each modification of plumage is attended by a still greater one of proportions, as will be seen from the diagnoses; thus, thoughneglectais the largest of the group, it has actually the smallest legs and feet; with nearly the same general proportions,magnaexceeds it in the latter respects (especially in the bill), whilemexicana, a very much smaller bird than either, has disproportionally and absolutely larger legs and feet united with the smallest size otherwise in the whole series.Meridionalispresents no differences from the last, except in proportions of bill and feet; for while the latter is the smallest of the series, next toneglecta, it has a bill much exceeding that of any other.
The markings of the upper plumage of the young or even winter birds are different in pattern from those of the adult; the tendency being toward the peculiar features of the adultneglecta; the various species in these stages being readily distinguishable, however, by the general characters assigned.Mexicanaandneglectaare both in proportions and colors themost widely different in the whole series;hippocrepisandneglectathe most similar. The relation of the several races to each other is about as follows:—
A.Yellow of throat confined within maxillæ.
Crown with black streaks predominating.
Smallest species, with reddish tints, and maximum amount of black.
Largest bill…meridionalis.
Smallest bill; largest feet…mexicana.
Next largest species, with less reddish tints, and smaller amount of black. Bill and feet the standard of comparison…magna
Crown with the light streaks predominating.
Narrowest pectoral crescent…hippocrepis
B.Yellow of throat covering maxillæ.
Crown with black and light streaks about equal.
Largest species, with grayish tints, and minimum amount of black.
Smallest feet…neglecta.
Sturnella magna,Swainson.
MEADOW LARK; OLD FIELD LARK.
Alauda magna,Linn.Syst. Nat. I, 1758, 167,ed.10 (based onAlauda magna,Catesby,tab.33).—Ib., (12thed.,) 1766, 289.—Gm.I, 1788, 801.—Wilson,Am. Orn. III, 1811, 20,pl. xix.—Doughty,Cab. I, 1830, 85,pl.V.Sturnella magna,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 436.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 535.—Samuels, 343.Sturnus ludovicianus,Linnæus,Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 290.—Gm.I, 802.—Lath.Ind. I, 1790, 323.—Bon.Obs. Wils.1825, 130.—Licht.Verz.1823,No.165.—Aud.Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 216;V, 1839, 492,pl. cxxxvi.Sturnella ludoviciana,Swainson,F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 282.—Nuttall,Man. I, 1832, 147.—Bon.List, 1838.—Ib.Conspectus, 1850, 429.—Aud.Syn.1839, 148.—Ib.Birds Am. IV, 1842, 70,pl. ccxxiii.—Cabanis,Mus. Hein.1851, 192.—Allen,B. E. Fla.288.Sturnella collaris,Vieill.Analyse, 1816.—Ib.Galerie desOis.I, 1824, 134,pl. xc.Sturnus collaris,Wagler,Syst. Av.1827, 1.—Ib.Isis, 1831, 527. “Cacicus alaudarius,Daudin,”Cabanis.
Sp. Char.The feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish-white, and with a terminal blotch of pale reddish-brown. Exposed portions of wings and tail with dark brown bars, which on the middle tail-feathers are confluent along the shaft. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent, the yellow not extending on the side of the maxilla; sides, crissum, and tibiæ pale reddish-brown, streaked with blackish. A light median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow anterior to the eye; a black line behind.Femalesmaller and duller.Youngwith pectoral crescent replaced by streaks; the yellow of under surface replaced more or less by ochraceous or pale fulvous. Length, 10.60; wing, 5.00; tail, 3.70; bill above, 1.35.
Hab.Eastern United States to the high Central Plains, north to Southern British Provinces. England (Sclater, Ibis,III, 176).
Habits.The eastern form of the Meadow Lark is found in all the eastern portions of the United States, from Florida to Texas at the south, and from Nova Scotia to the Missouri at the north. Richardson met with it on theSaskatchewan, where it arrives about the first of May. In a large portion of the United States it is resident, or only partially migratory.
In Maine this species is not abundant. A few are found in Southern Maine, even as far to the east as Calais, where it is very rare. It was not found in Oxford County by Mr. Verrill. In New Hampshire and Vermont, especially in the southern portions, it is much more abundant. Throughout Massachusetts it is a common summer visitant, a few remaining all winter, the greater number coming in March and leaving again in November, at which time they seem to be somewhat, though only partially, gregarious. South of Massachusetts it becomes more generally resident, and is only very partially migratory, where the depth of snow compels them to seek food elsewhere. Wilson states that he met a few of these birds in the month of February, during a deep snow, among the heights of the Alleghanies, near Somerset,Penn.
The favorite resorts of this species are old fields, pasture-lands, and meadows, localities in which they can best procure the insects, largely coleopterous, and the seeds on which they feed. They are not found in woods or thickets, or only in very exceptional cases.
In New England they are shy, retiring birds, and are rarely seen in the neighborhood of houses; but in Georgia and South Carolina, Wilson found them swarming among the rice plantations, and running about in the yards and the out-buildings, in company with the Killdeer Plovers, with little or no appearance of fear, and as if domesticated.
In Alabama and West Florida, Mr. Nuttall states, the birds abound during the winter months, and may be seen in considerable numbers in the salt marshes, seeking their food and the shelter of the sea-coast. They are then in loose flocks of from ten to thirty. At this season many are shot and brought to market. By some their flesh is said to be sweet and good; but this is denied by Audubon, who states it to be tough and of unpleasant flavor.
Mr. Sclater records the occurrence of one or more individuals of this species in England.
The song of the eastern Meadow Lark is chiefly distinguished for its sweetness more than any other excellence. When, in spring, at the height of their love-season, they alight on the post of a fence, a bush, or tree, or any other high object, they will give utterance to notes that, in sweetness and tenderness of expression, are surpassed by very few of our birds. But they are wanting in variety and power, and are frequently varied, but not improved, by the substitution of chattering call-notes, which are much inferior in quality. It is noticeable that at the West there is a very great improvement in the song of this bird as compared with that of their more eastern kindred, though still very far from equalling, either in volume, variety, or power, the remarkable song of theneglecta.
In the fall of the year these birds collect in small companies, and feed together in the same localities, but keeping, individually, somewhat apart.
In New England these birds mate during the latter part of April, and construct their nests in May. They always place their nest on the ground, usually in the shelter of a thick tuft of grass, and build a covered passage to their hidden nest. This entrance is usually formed of withered grass, and so well conceals the nest that it can only be detected by flushing the female from it, or by the anxiety of her mate, who will frequently fly round the spot in so narrow a circuit as to betray its location.
The eggs of the Meadow Lark vary greatly in size and also in their markings, though the general character of the latter is the same. The smallest, from Florida, measure .95 by .68 of an inch. The largest, from Massachusetts, measure 1.20 inches by .90. They have a white ground, marked and dotted with irregular reddish-brown spots. Generally these are equally distributed, but occasionally are chiefly about the larger end. Their shape is oval, nearly equally rounded at either end.
The diversity in the characteristics of the eggs of this species has not unfrequently occasioned remarks, and even suggested conjectures as to specific differences. They are all, however, reconcilable with differences in the age of the parents, and are, to some extent, affected by the circumstances under which they are deposited. The eggs of old, mature birds, deposited in the early summer, or the first brood, are usually sub-globular or obtusely pointed at either end, large in size, and irregularly sprinkled over with fine bright red dots. Younger birds, breeding for the first time, birds that have been robbed of their eggs, or those depositing a third set, have smaller eggs, sometimes two thirds of the maximum size, more oblong and more pointed at one end, and are marked, at the larger end only, with plashes of dark purplish-brown.
Sturnella magna,var.neglecta,Aud.
WESTERN LARK.
Sturnella neglecta,Or. Route; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI,IV, 1857, 86.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 537.—Heerm.X, S, 54.—Cooper & Suckley, 208.—Cooper,Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 270.? Sturnella hippocrepis, (Wagler,)Heermann,J. A. N. Sc. Ph.2dseries,II, 1853, 269, Suisun.
Sp. Char.Feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish-white, with a terminal blotch of pale reddish-brown. Exposed portion of wings and tail with transverse bands, which, in the latter, are completely isolated from each other, narrow and linear. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent. The yellow of the throat extending on the sides of the maxilla. Sides, crissum, and tibiæ very pale reddish-brown, or nearly white, streaked with blackish. Head with a light median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow in front of the eye; a blackish line behind it. The transverse bars on the feathers above (less so on the tail) with a tendency to become confluent near the exterior margin. Length, 10 inches; wing, 5.25; tail, 3.25; bill, 1.25.
Hab.Western America from high Central Plains to the Pacific; east to Pembina, and perhaps to Wisconsin, on the north (Iowa, Allen), and Texas on the south; western Mexico, south to Colima.
Illustration: Color plate 34PLATEXXXIV.
PLATEXXXIV.
PLATEXXXIV.
Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 11.Sturnella neglecta.♂Nevada, 53592.
1.Sturnella neglecta.♂Nevada, 53592.
1.Sturnella neglecta.♂Nevada, 53592.
Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 22.Sturnella magna.♂Pa., 1303.
2.Sturnella magna.♂Pa., 1303.
2.Sturnella magna.♂Pa., 1303.
Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 33.Icterus bullocki.♂Ft.Bridger, 11282.
3.Icterus bullocki.♂Ft.Bridger, 11282.
3.Icterus bullocki.♂Ft.Bridger, 11282.
Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 44.Icterus spurius.♂La., 4286.
4.Icterus spurius.♂La., 4286.
4.Icterus spurius.♂La., 4286.
Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 55.Icterus spurius.♂juv.Pa., 1437.
5.Icterus spurius.♂juv.Pa., 1437.
5.Icterus spurius.♂juv.Pa., 1437.
Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 66.Icterus spurius.♀Pa., 150.
6.Icterus spurius.♀Pa., 150.
6.Icterus spurius.♀Pa., 150.
Illustration: Color plate 34 detail 77.Icterus bullocki.♀Cal., 3900.
7.Icterus bullocki.♀Cal., 3900.
7.Icterus bullocki.♀Cal., 3900.
Habits.The differences of plumage between this species and our eastern Meadow Lark are so slight that we might hesitate to allow the existence of any specific distinctness between the two forms, were it not for the very strongly marked differences between them in other respects. Whether we regard them as races or as different species, their history diverges as we cross the Missouri River, though both are found on either bank.
The existence of this variety was first made known by Messrs. Lewis and Clark, in their memorable expedition to the Rocky Mountains. They refer especially to the difference, in the notes, between this bird and the old Field Lark of the east. It remained unnoticed by our ornithologists until 1844, when Mr. Audubon included it in the appendix to his seventh volume. He met with it in his voyage to the Yellowstone, and it would have escaped his notice had not the attention of his party been called to its curious notes. In its flight, manners on the ground, or general habits, he could perceive no difference between it and the common species. None of its nests that he found were covered over, in the manner of themagna, and the eggs were differently marked.
Mr. J. A. Allen, in his interesting paper on the birds observed in Western Iowa, while he does not admit any specific difference between these two forms, presents with impartial exactness the very striking dissimilarity between them, both in habits and in song. In regard to the diversity in habits we quote his words:—
“At the little village of Denison, where I first noticed it in song, it was particularly common, and half domestic in its habits, preferring the streets and grassy lanes, and the immediate vicinity of the village, to the remoter prairie. Here, wholly unmolested and unsuspicious, it collected its food; and the males, from their accustomed perches on the housetops, daily warbled their wild songs for hours together.” These traits of familiarity, so totally different from anything ever observed in our eastern birds, he does not concede, however, as establishing necessarily specific difference. Yet he does admit that its song was so new to him that he did not at first have the slightest suspicion that its utterer was the western Meadow Lark, as he found it to be. He adds: “It differs from that of the Meadow Lark in the Eastern States, in the notes being louder and wilder, and at the same time more liquid, mellower, and far sweeter. They have a pensiveness and a general character remarkably in harmony with the half-dreamy wildness of the primitive prairie, as though the bird had received from its surroundings their peculiar impress. It differs, too, in the less frequency of the harsh, complaining chatter so conspicuous in the eastern bird.”
The value of these marked differences, both in song and character, between the eastern and western birds, we will not argue, but will only add that they are none too strikingly presented by Mr. Allen. During the writer’s brief visit to the Plains he was strongly impressed by the natural, confiding trustfulness of this species and its wonderful beauty of song, both insuch remarkable contrast with the habits of our eastern birds. At Antelope Station a pair of these birds had built their nest under the window of the office, and seemed to enjoy the society of the family, while the depot-master, familiar with the song and habits of our eastern birds, appreciated the great differences between the two forms, and called my attention to them.
Mr. Allen also found this Lark everywhere abundant in Colorado, but its notes appeared to him quite different from those of the representatives of this species living to the eastward, in the prairie States, being less varied and ringing, and more guttural.
Dr. Cooper says this bird is abundant in California, and resident nearly throughout the entire State, breeding in the Colorado Valley and in all other districts not quite waterless. Their songs are lively, sweet, and varied. They sing at all seasons, early and late, from the ground, from the tree-top, or in the air, and when unmolested are so tame as to make the house-top their favorite perch. Even the female has considerable musical power, and cheers her mate by singing to him while he relieves her by sitting on the eggs. She also has a harsh, petulant chirp, frequently repeated as if in anger. He states that they build their nest in a slight depression under a bunch of grass, and usually more or less arched over and artfully concealed. The female, when flushed, usually skulks off some distance before she flies. The eggs he describes as white, with a few large purplish-brown blotches and dots towards the larger end, and measuring 1.15 inches by .85. They are very obtuse in shape.
They feed chiefly on insects, seeds, and grain, do no damage to the crops, and destroy a vast number of noxious insects.
Dr. Suckley found this bird common everywhere in Oregon and Washington Territory, some remaining throughout every winter. In 1855 a few were seen at Fort Dalles as early as March 5. On the 7th he found them quite abundant on the ploughed fields near Fort Vancouver. Some of these had probably remained all the winter. In February, 1856, he found them quite abundant at Fort Steilacoom. At Fort Dalles, by the2dof May, he obtained young birds nearly fledged.
Mr. Dresser found it very common during winter near San Antonio, where a few remain to breed.
In Arizona, according to Dr. Coues, it is resident, but quite rare.
Lieutenant Couch found these birds from the Rio Grande to the high bottoms of the Lower Bolson de Mapimi. Its notes he speaks of as highly musical, contending even with the Mocking Bird for a supremacy in song.
Mr. Ridgway found the western Meadow Lark one of the most abundant and characteristic birds of California and all fertile portions of the interior as far east as the Missouri, and remarks that, although closely resembling the eastern bird in appearance, its song is totally different, not a note uttered by it having more than a very distant resemblance to any of the well-knownmagnaof the eastern meadows. In the depth of its tone and the charmsof its articulation its song is hardly excelled, resembling very nearly the song of the Wood Thrush. Mr. Ridgway describes its modulations as expressed by the syllablestung-tung-tungah-til’lah-til’lah-tung, each note powerful and distinct. The difference between the other notes of the two birds is still greater than in their song, and even in character these are not alike. In theneglectathe call-note of watchfulness or alarm is a loud, deep-tonedtuck, similar to thechuckof the Blackbird, but much louder and more metallic. That of sympathy for the young, or anxiety when the nest is approached, is a loud, liquidtyur, slightly resembling the complaining note of the eastern Bluebird, and also of the Orchard Oriole. All of its notes are of a power corresponding to the size of the bird.
Mr. Ridgway also notices important differences in their flight. That of the eastern species is carried on by an occasional spasmodic beat or jerk of the wings, which are then extended, the bird sailing a short distance. The flight of the western Lark is much more irregular, the bird flitting along by a trembling flutter of the wings, never assuming these peculiar features.
An egg of this species, collected by Dr. Cooper in Washington Territory, June 19, 1856, measures 1.20 inches in length and .86 in breadth. It is of an oblong-oval shape, obtuse; the ground white, sparingly spotted with a very dark purple, most of the markings being at the larger end. Three eggs from Arizona, collected by Dr. Palmer, measure 1.10 inches by .80. The markings are of much lighter shades of lilac, purple, and purplish and reddish-brown. The markings are more generally diffused, but predominate at the larger end. An egg from the Yellowstone, collected by Mr. Audubon, is unusually pointed at one end, measures 1.13 inches by .82. The spots are a dark purplish-brown, intermingled with smaller and lighter dottings of reddish-brown. Eggs from California do not vary essentially in their markings from those of Arizona, and have an average measurement of 1.10 inches by .85. As a general rule, the mottling of the eggs of the western bird is finer than that of the eastern.