102 



PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA 



No. 14 



\ 



in tlic riii\crsity of Montana collection and believe that tliey all helon;^ to this 

 race, or at least to a race with a much longer, more slender bill than either forth 

 or ncutralis. I had no specimens of neidralis at tlic time to comi)are them with, 

 but there was more difference between them and forti.s than between specimens 

 of fortis and neutralis that I have since examined. 



While the Silver Bow record is the only one that can at the pi-esent time be 

 definitely ascribed to cdtirinus, I am considering that all records west of the 

 divide belong to it. Assuming this, its migrations and nesting dates are earlier 

 than those of fortis. At ^lissoula the earliest and latest dates are February 28 

 and Xovembei- 28, respectively (Kittredge, MS). A nest containing newly 

 liatclied young and eggs was found at Silver Bow, May 21, 1911. 



(/. 



*. »1*. 



^^'.\ 











^ViSV 





197. 



Fig. 23. Ni;sr am) i:(i(;s ob tiik VVksikk.n Mkadowi.akk. Cue 

 TEAL'; Ji;xE 10, 1912. 



Sturnella neglecta Audubon 

 Western M k.vdowi.akk 



An abundant siimmer i-esident on the praii-ies ami in inouutain \alleys 

 throughout ^Montana. Occurs in winter in the westei-u half ol' the state, occur- 

 ring in large numbers at this season west of the divide. The Meadowlark is one 

 of the commonest birds in the state, and one of the best-known ones, it bi-eeds 

 commonly in oj)en grass lands, pai'ticuhifly in irrigated hay fi( his and in the 

 more moist meadows in thi' stream valleys. It is also conunou in the gi'ass lands 



