WESTERN MEADOWLARK 87 



The top of the roof was about 5 inches above the surface of the ground. 

 The inside of the nest was globular and 4% or 5 inches in diameter. 

 The round entrance on the south side was 2% inches in diameter. The 

 lower margin of the entrance was about an inch below the surface of 

 the ground. The lining was of small grass stems." 



Kendeigh (1941) mentions two Iowa nests: "The first nest with six 

 eggs was well concealed in Poa pratensis under a clump of Solidago 

 rigida. * * * The second nest was under a tuft of Andropogon and 

 had a tunnel a foot long, slightly curved, leading to it." 



John G. Tyler (1913), of Fresno, Calif., writes: 



Other nests have been seen in alfalfa fields and among thick growths of weeds; 

 but what I consider the most unusual site was located April 23, 1908 when a 

 Meadowlark was plainly seen sitting on her nest while I was yet over one hundred 

 feet distant. The nest was found near a berry patch, the ground having been 

 plowed earty in the winter, later a sparse, stunted growth of oats springing up. 

 At the time the nest was found the oats were not over six inches in height, and so 

 thin and scattering as to afford almost no protection or concealment. In a slight 

 hollow, not over three-quarters of an inch in depth, were four eggs resting on the 

 bare, damp ground, without a semblance of nesting material either over, under, or 

 around them. 



Bendire (1895) mentions a nest "placed in a hole in the ground fully 

 8 inches deep." Dr. Harold C. Bryant (1914) found that, in Cali- 

 fornia, "a preference for pasture land for nesting sites was shown, at 

 least eighty per cent of the nests found being so situated. * * * A 

 canopy of dry grass stems usually arches the top of the nest and a 

 runway two to five feet long leads to the nest. Ofttimes this runway 

 is the only clue to the location of the nest." 



Eggs. — From three to seven eggs constitute the set for the western 

 meadowlark, five being the commonest number. They are practically 

 indistinguishable from those of the eastern bird. According to Bendire 

 (1895), "the average measurement of 206 specimens in the United 

 States National Museum collection is 28.33 by 20.60 millimeters, or 

 about 1.12 by 0.81 inches. The largest egg in the series measures 30.78 

 by 21.84 millimeters, or 1.21 by 0.86 inches; the smallest, 25.65 by 

 20.07 millimeters, or 1.01 by 0.79 inches." 



Young. — Bendire (1895) wiites: "Both sexes assist in the con- 

 struction of the nest and also in incubation, which lasts about 15 days. 

 An egg is deposited daily until the set is completed. The young leave 

 the nest before they are able to fly, depending for safety on hiding 

 themselves in the grass, and they are cared for by the parents until 

 they can provide for themselves. When they are able to do this they 

 gather into small companies and roam over the surrounding country. 

 I do not believe that any of the young of the year remain in our 

 Northwestern States through the winter; they probably move slowly 

 southward in the late fall." 



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