PERCHING BIRDS 



605. Lark Bunting. Calamospiza mela- 

 nocorys.. 



Range. — A bird of the Plains, abundant from 

 western Kansas to eastern Colorado and north 

 to the Canadian border; winters in Mexico. 



These black and white birds have a sweel 

 song which they often utter while on the wing 

 after the manner of the Bobo- 

 link, all their habits being 

 similar to those of this bird. 

 except that this species likes 

 the broad dry prairies where 

 it nests on the ground under 

 the protection of a tuft of 

 grass or a low bush. Their 

 four or five eggs are like 

 those of the last but slightly larger. Size .85 

 x .65. Data. — Franklin Co., Kansas. 4 < 

 Nest in cornfield in a hollow on the ground a; 

 the base of a stalk; made of straw and wi 



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TANAGERS. Family TANAGRID^E 



607. Western Tanager. Piranga ludoviciana. 



Range. I'nited States, west of the Plains and north to British Columbia. 



This handsome species is black and yellow, with an orange or reddish head. 



They are common and breed in suitable localities through their range, nesting 



as do the eastern Tanagers in trees usually at a low elevation, the nests being 



-addled on the forks of horizontal branches; they are made of rootlets, strips 



of bark, and weed stalks, 

 ymiw. - and are usually frail like 



a^, those of the Grosbeaks. 



■* m ,[ \ / ^M i Tin '• ■ ■ laid 



Qj^H in May or June, are bluish 



^g'-- m j± green, -pecked with brown 



'■*%■ of varying shad 



^ .95 x .65. Blui 



608. S< \ 1:11/1 Tanager. Piranga eryth 

 romelas. 



These beautiful scarlet 



and black birds frequent, 

 chiefly, w o d 1 a n d 

 though they are verj ol 

 ten found breeding ii 



1 hard- and small pine 



Thej are quiet 



bird . in ad ion-, but their 



loud warbling song 1 



heard ai a great distance, and is readily recog 



nized bj its peculiarity. They aest upon hori 



369 



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X 



h Mm 



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