316 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



These may be distinguished by the following characters : 



1. 8. magna. Yollow ortliroiit (.-onflnvU strictly botween tbu maxllltu. Lateral utrlpos 

 of the iTDWii with blnck prcdomlniitiiiK': uppiT pnrts with nui.'h blaok.itiul with tho dark 

 l>nr« of th(- torlliilH iind iiilddlf lnll-friitlicr« UMUilly ooDiiei'tfd nIonK tho middle line of 

 the feiiiluTs. tliili. Eastern United Stales to the border of the dri-ut I'lalns. 



2. 8. negleota. Yellow of the throat I'XtendlnB over the uuixilla' nearly orqulto to the 

 ancle of the mouth. Lateral erown strhieM streaked with blaek and cniyish In nearly 

 I'qual amount: upper parts with less blaek, the dark bars of the tertlals and middle toll- 

 feuthers not eonneeted. Hnh. Western United States and western Mexico, eoat to the 

 prairie districts of the Mississippi Valley. 



It is sometimes rather difficult to distinguish specimens of these 

 two species ; but the most casual obsei-ver of birds may readily dis- 

 tinguish them in life by their totally different notes— probably no 

 two species of any genus of birds being more distinct in this respect. 



Sturnella magna (Linn.) 



MEADOWLARK. 



Popular BynonjrmB. Fieldlarki Old Firld Link. 



Ahiiiila iniigiiK LiXN. S. N. ed. 10, i . 175S. 107.— WiLS. Am. Orn. lii. 1811.20. pi. I'.i. 

 Shiriii-lla maaiiii lUinD. B. N. Am. 1858. 535; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 406.— COUES. Key, 

 ISTJ. 1,17; •J<1 ed. 1884, 40fi: Cheek List, l«74,No. 214: 2d ed. 1882. No. 320; B. N. W. 1874. 

 190 ipnrtl.— B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. 11, 1874, 174, pi. 34, llg. 2.— Bii>o\v. Xoni. N. 

 Am. B. 1881. No. 26:1. 

 Sturnua liidork-ianuii LiNN. 8. N. ed. 12. 1. 1766, 290.— NuTT. Man. 1. 1832.147.— AuD. Orn. 

 Biog. 11, 18:14,216; v. 1839, 492. pl. 1.%. 

 Sturnella lujoeifiana Sw. 1831. -AuD. Synop. 1839. 148; B. Am. iv.l812,;o,pl. 2H. 



Hab. Eastern United Statesand British Provinces (north to about 53° in the Interior), 

 west to the edge of the Great Plains: winters ehielly south of 38^. .Accidental in England. 



"Sp. Char. Thefeathers above dark brown, margined with brownish white, and with 

 a terminal blotcli of pale reddish brown. Exposed portions of wings and tail with dark 

 brown bars, which on the middle tail-feathers are confluent along the shaft. Beneath 

 yellow, with a black pectoral crescent, the yellow not extending on the side of the 

 maxilla: sides, crlssum. and tibiae pale reddish brown, streaked with blackish. Alight 

 median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow anterior to the eye; a black line behind. 

 /■'i-niali' smaller and duller. VniDig with pei'toral crescent replaced by streaks: tin- yel- 

 low of under surface replaced more or less by ochraeeousor pnle fulvous. Length. lO.tio; 

 wing. 5.00; tall. 3.70; bill above, 1.36." [Hial. ^\ Am. S.) 



Adult male. Wing, 4.50-5.00: tail. 3. 50-3. 85: culmcn. 1.20-1 .10; bill from nostril, .75-96; 

 tnr8U8.1.3fi-1.60; middle toe, 1.10-1. 30. 



Adult female. Wing about 4.20, tall 3.00. 



Four adult males from Mount Carmel measured, when fresh, as 

 follows: Total length, O-To-lO-^O ; extent, 15.00-15.75. 



In a work whose acliiiowledged aim is to give information to the 

 interested reader, it seems almost presumptuous on the part of the 

 author to offer any remarks on the habits of so well-known a bird 



