146 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1897. 



THE GENUS STURNELLA. 

 BY WITMER STONE. 



The diversity of coloration in the Meadow Larks included by- 

 authors under the name Stumella magna mexicana must have at- 

 tracted the atteution of anyone who has examined a series of these 

 birds. 



The range of mexicana as given in the American Ornithologists 

 Union Check List, extends northward to the Rio Grande Valley 

 though the larks from this locality are very different looking birds 

 from those which occur in Southern Mexico and Central America. 



The Meadow Lark of Southern Florida has also been referred to 

 mexicana, but while there is a close resemblance between the two, 

 they are widely separated geographically and their similarity must 

 be considered as a case of parallel development rather than of im- 

 mediate relationship. The uncertain status of these races seemed 

 to render desirable a careful revision of the genus, the results of 

 which are embodied in the present paper. 



For the opportunity of satisfactorily studying the relationships of 

 the Rio Grande Meadow Lark, I am mainly indebted to Mr. Josiah 

 Hoopes, of West Chester, Pa., who has taken great trouble to ascer- 

 tain the exact status of this bird, and has generously placed his en- 

 tire series of specimens at my disposal. 



I am also indebted to Mr. Robert Ridgway of the United States 

 National Museum, and to Mr. Wm. Brewster, from both of whom 1 

 have received series of specimens to aid in my investigations. These 

 together with specimens from the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia and from my own collection number 192 skins, which 

 constitutes the material upou which my work is based. 



The Meadow Lark was first named by Linnseus in 1758, 1 Alauda 

 magna based upon Catesby's Carolina, I, p. 33. pi. 33. He gives 

 the " habitat in America, Africa," the latter reference probably 

 referring to Macronyx, which greatly resembles Stumella in colora- 

 tion. In 1766 in edition XII of the Systema, Linuseus again 

 named the bird Sturnus ludovicianus, basing this name on Brisson 



1 Systema Natura, X ed., p. 117. 



