96 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 211 



western meadowlark was the most numerous kind of bird and the most 

 persistently conspicuous one throughout the whole year. Repeated 

 counts and estimates fixed the highest number present at one time, in 

 winter, as around two hundred. The meadowlarks in winter were 

 banded into two or three flocks varying from forty to one hundred 

 individuals, with additional scattered individuals always present in 

 the neighborhood. * * * Possibly not more than 50 pfirs remained 

 to nest." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Western North America from British Columbia and 

 Ontario south to Mexico. 



Breeding range. — The western meadowlark breeds from south- 

 eastern British Columbia, central Alberta, central Saskatchewan 

 (Manitoba Lake, Hudson Bay Junction), southern Manitoba (Dau- 

 phin, Shoal Lake), western Ontario (Emo, Fort William), northeastern 

 Minnesota, northern Wisconsin (Superior), northern Michigan 

 (Marquette), southern Ontario (Sault Ste. Marie; rarely Hamilton), 

 northwestern Ohio (casually) ; south through western Montana, east- 

 ern Idaho, Nevada, and southeastern California to northwestern 

 Baja California (San Quintin), northwestern Sonora, central and 

 southeastern Arizona (Chandler, SafFord, rarely Tucson), eastern 

 Sonora, Sinaloa, Jalisco, northwestern Durango, Guanajuato, south- 

 eastern Coahuila, central Texas (Eagle Pass, Austin), northwestern 

 Louisiana (Gilliam), northwestern Arkansas, central-eastern Mis- 

 souri, southwestern Tennessee (Memphis), southern Illinois, southern 

 Michigan, and (casually) central Ohio. 



Winter range. — Winters north to southern Alberta, southern 

 Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, and southern Wisconsin (Racine) ; 

 south to southern Baja California, Michoacan, Mexico, Nuevo Leon, 

 Tamaulipas, southern Texas (Brownsville, Cove), Louisiana, and 

 southern Mississippi. 



Casual records. — Casual in Alaska (Craig), northern British Co- 

 lumbia (Ispatseeza River), Mackenzie (30 miles below Fort Simpson), 

 northern Alberta (Fort Chipewyan), and Kentucky (Louisville, 

 Bowling Green). Accidental in northern Ontario (Moose Factory), 

 New York (Rochester), and Georgia (St. Marys). 



Migration. — Early dates of spring ai rival are: Missouri — St. 

 Louis and St. Joseph, March 21. Illinois — Port Byron, March 6. 

 Indiana — Posey County, February 11; Newton County, March 31. 

 Ohio— Salem, March 13. Michigan — Three Rivers, March 10. 

 Iowa — Indianola, February 24. Wisconsin — Hammond, March 5; 

 Superior, March 15. Minnesota — Red Wing, March 1 (average for 

 southern Minnesota, March 12); Wilkins County, March 9 (average 



