MEADOW-LARK. A North Ameriean star ling-like bird frequenting meadows and open Few American smug birds are more gen eral favorites. This is not a lark at all, bat oolongs to the family leteridle, and is therefore a near relative of the bobolink, oriole, and black bird. The genus (S(ornelld) contain: only one well-marked species. the eommon meadow-lark inagna) of the Eastern United States, but there are several subspecies %Odell, though they may not differ much in color, exhibit marked peculiarities in habit and song. The common meadow-lark ranges in summer from New Brunswick to the Gulf of :Mexico, east of the Mississippi, and even in winter only retreats as far south as Southern New England and Illinois. The Western meadow-lark (variety nc gfeeta) occupies the western half of the eon Olivia and extends southward into Western Mexico, while other subspecies occur in Cuba and Slexieo. Meadow-larks are about ten and three-quarters inches in length, with large feet and a long, straight, sharp bill. The loathers of the upper surface arc prevailingly black, with rufous and buff borders: and tips, so that the whole upper surface is variegated with those three colors. The throat, breast, and anterior half of the belly are bright yellow. with a prominent black crescent about the middle of the breast. The tail feathers: are narrow and short, and when the bird takes to the wing the white outer ones become very conspicuous. The Western meadow lark has lighter upper parts. more perfect, less confluent bars on the tail feathers, and the sides, as well as the front, of the throat are yellow. The notes of the meadow-lark are clear
and strong—a sort. of cheerful whistle—but Chapman says that they differ in different lo calities, so that the notes of the Florida birds are markedly different from those heard in the Northern States. The notes of the Western meadow-lark are famous for their musical qual ity. The contrast between its brilliant song and that of the Eastern form, added to other peculiar traits, many students of the full specific rank of the Western bird. Consult on this point Cows, Birds of the Northlrest (Washington, 1874).
Meadow-larks feed upon both seeds and in see64, which they obtain upon the ground in the open meadows and fields. In summer they are not gregarious, though several pairs may be seen in neighboring fields; but in winter they are often found in swamps in some numbers. The nest is built upon the ground. and is composed of grasses, so arranged as to arch over at the top and make a more or less completely covered shelter. The eggs (see Colored Plate of EGGS OF SONG Binos) are four to six in number, large for the size of the bird, white, marked chiefly at the larger end with bright brown. Although not a game bird, meadow-larks are frequently hunted. both for sport and food. but they are not especially desirable for the table, and the shooting of them is nearly everywhere illegal. See Plate of LARKS A NI) STA RUNGS.