360 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Sturnella colaris Vieillot, Gal. Ois., i, 1834, pi. 90. 



[Sturnella vHujna.'] a. Subsp. (ijpica Sclatek, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xi, 1886, 358, 

 in list of specimens (District Columbia; New York; Illinois). 



STURNELLA MAGNA ARGUTULA Bangs. 



SOUTHERN MEADOWLARK. 



Similar to S. ni. magna, but decidedly smaller and coloration 

 darker; upper parts with relativel}' more black (this prevailing on 

 back in ])reeding' season), the brown markings deeper or more decidedl}' 

 brown (var3'ing- from raw umber to mummy brown); yellow of under 

 parts averaging deeper; white on lateral rectrices more restricted. 



^^Z«Z^;?^rt^^— Length (skins), 205.5-234.7 (219.2); wing, 104.6-118.9 

 (111.8); tail, 67.0-78.5 (72.9); culmen, from base, 30.5-35.1 (32.8); 

 tarsus, 39.4-43.9 (41.4); middle toe, 27.4-31.8 (29.2).' • 



Adult female.~^l.Qn^yih (skins), 191.8-199.4 (197.1); wing, 95.3- 

 101.6 (99.1); tail, 60.2-67.1 (63); culmen, from base, 27.9-30.2 (28.7); 

 tarsus, 36.3-40.6 (38.4); middle toe; 25.9-30.2 (27.4).' . 



Lower Austral or Austroriparian life-zone of eastern United States, 

 from Florida, the Caroliuas (?), etc., to Louisiana, and north through 

 lower Mississippi Valley to southeastern Illinois (Richland, Lawrence, 

 andi Wabash counties) and southwestern Indiana (Knox County).'' 



* Sixteen specimens. 

 ■'' ICight specimens. 

 Average measurements according to locality are as follows: 



^I feel compelled to refer to this form the meadow-larks breeding in the lower 

 Wabash Valley, for the reason that they agree far more closely in size and coloration 

 with Louisiana and Florida birds than they do with those from the upper Missis- 

 sippi Valley, eastern Middle States, and other portions of the Upper Austral life-zone — 

 those of the Transition zone being still more different. The measurements given 

 above will, when comj)ared with those of S. in. ma(pi<i on page 358, clearly show their 

 status as based on measurements. Regarding their coloration, it may be said that 

 no difference worthy of consideration seems to exist when birds taken in the breed- 

 ing season are compared (winter birds from the lower Mississippi Valley are unfor- 

 tunately not available), though Florida specimens seem, as a rule, to have the black 

 jugular crescent slightly narrower than others. 



