310 Birds of Colorado 



necklace is narrower and the upper mandible is brown. The yotmg 

 birds are light, like the adults, in winter, but there is much less yellow 

 below, and the black necklace is very obscurely marked or absent. 



The western bird differs from the eastern Meadow-Lark in its paler 

 colour above, and in the much greater extension of the yellow of the 

 malar region on either side of the throat. 



Distribution. — Breeding throughout western North America, from 

 British Columbia and western Manitoba southwards to Texas and 

 Cahfornia ; south to central Mexico in winter, though a few birds winter 

 as far north as Washington and Idaho. 



In Colorado the Meadow-Lark is a very abundant siunmer resident, 

 especially on the eastern plains and foothills and up into the lower 

 mountain parks to 8,000 feet. In favourable localities it goes up to 

 timber line in sununer time, and is noted as breeding at Breckenridge 

 (9,700 feet) by Carter, and at Crested Butte (9,000 feet) by Warren, 

 while Professor Brunner informs me that he has seen it at timber line 

 near Fort Garland. 



There is no doubt that quite a few Meadow-Larks winter in Colorado. 

 During the winter 1907-8, I observed a small flock every few days 

 close to my house near Colorado Springs. The greater number, how- 

 ever, arrive from the south early in March (Pueblo, March 3rd, 

 Lowe 01), and leave again about the middle of October. 



Habits. — ^The Meadow-Lark is a bird of the open country, 

 generally seen about arable and grass land. It is quite 

 familiar and unsuspicious, and can frequently be noticed 

 within the limits of Colorado Springs, perched on a 

 telegraph pole for preference, and pouring forth its 

 glorious melody. Naturally, in spring it is heard to 

 greatest advantage, but it sings also in the autumn, 

 and even in Avinter if the day is warm and bright. There 

 is a great variety about the notes, but everyone is agreed 

 that the song is entirely distinct from that of the eastern 

 bird, and that it is far more melodious and sweet. 

 C. N. Allen (81) has endeavoured to reduce the song 

 to musical notation, and has given examples of twenty- 

 seven different melodies. 



The food of the Meadow-Lark consists chiefly of insects, 

 beetles, grasshoppers and crickets ; but it also eats quan- 

 tities of weed seeds, and is a valuable ally of the farmer. 



