208 ZOOLOGY. 



STURNELLA NEGLECTA, A u d . 



Western Meadow Lark. 



Sturnella negUcta, Ann. Birds of Amer. Vlt, 1843, 339. 



Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, 537, and others. 



Sp. Ch. — The feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish white, and with a terminal blotch of pale reddish 

 brown. Exposed portions of wings and tail with transverse dark brown bars, which on the middle tail feathers are not 

 confluent along the shaft. Beneath yellow, with a black pectoral crescent, the yellow extending on the side of the maxilla ; 

 sides, crissum, and tibiae, pale reddish brown, streaked with blackish. A light median and superciliary stripe, the latter 

 yellow anterior to the eye ; a black line behind. 



Length, 10 to 10.50; extent, 15 to 17; wing, 5.25; tail, 3.25 ; bill, 1.25. Iris brown. Several specimens from 

 Puget Sound scarcely differ from S. magna. 



This species is so very closely related to S. magna as to render it very difhcult to distinguish them. The same description 

 as to pattern, colors, size, &c., will apply almost equally well to both. The prevailing shade of color is, however, decidedly 



paler in neghcla. 



Habilal. — Western America, from high central plains to the Pacific. Very abundant on the Columbia and at Puget Sound. 



I found the western meadow lark very abundant in all the prairies of the Territory, where 

 it resides constantly, merely visiting the warmer coast meadows in very cold weather, but not 

 remainin"" there during summer. The only reason I can assign why this and many other birds 

 shun the sea-coast is the prevalence of strong sea breezes there in summer, and a little greater 

 amount of rain. It is, however, abundant on the higher and more sheltered prairies of Whidby's 

 island, at the Straits of De Fuca. I observed the habits and song of the meadow larks closely 

 and in every locality, but could never see anything to characterize more than one species. 

 Their song differs in notes, but not in style or tone, in different parts of the continent. A 

 nest and eggs found at Steilacoom agree exactly with those of the Atlantic States. Is it not 

 Drobable that the smaller specimens, supposed to be of another species, are only stunted birds 

 of late broods, as is the case with the red-wings? I have found specimens of all sizes, from 10 

 to 11 J inches in length, and 16 to 16| inches extent. The smallest I got in winter, at Van- 

 couver, when but few remained, and those probably of late broods. In my late journey to 

 Fori Laramie, Nebraska Territory, 1 observed with much surprise the fact first mentioned by 

 Audubon, that after getting fairly out on the plains the song of the larks differs very much from 

 that of the eastern bird, being louder and more varied ; the same tunes prevailing as in Wash- 

 ington Territory and California, and thus corresponding with the range of the western species. — C. 



This bird I found common on the east side of the Rocky mountains. It is exceedingly 

 abundant throughout Oregon and Washington Territories, where a few remain throughout 

 every winter. Their notes, calls, and songs, as already stated, are identical with those of the 

 foregoing species, although I think that one call, or note of alarm, common to the S. magna, is 

 wanting. This is the crj' of the latter bird, probably familiar to man)-, but very difficult to 

 describe, produced by the male when alarmed during the breeding season, flying from low bush 

 to low bush, or to other points but slightly elevated from the ground, he endeavors to decoy the 

 invader to a distance from his nest or young. It is a quick cry of either two or four syllables, 

 dwelling long upon and accenting the last. 



The greater number of individuals of this species retire to the south during the winter, but 

 return very early in the spring, generally in early March. Pasture lands, open meadows, and 

 prairies are their favorite resort. In the fall they congregate in flocks before migrating. 



In 18.55 a few were seen as early as March 5 at Fort Dalles. On the 7th of the same month 



