174 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



most widely different in the wliole series ; Itippocrepis and negleda the 

 most similar. The relation of the several races to each other is about as 

 follows : — 



A« Yellow of throjit confined within maxillte. 

 Crown with black streaks predominating. 



Smallest siJecies, with reddish tints, and maximum amount of black. 



Largest bill meridionalis. 



Smallest bill ; largest feet mexicana. 



Next largest species, with less reddish tints, and smaller amount of 

 black. Bill and feet the standard of comparison . . . magna. 

 Crown with the light streaks predominating. 



Narrowest pectoral crescent ...... hippocrepis. 



B. Yellow of throat covering maxilte. 



Crown with black and light streaks about equal. 



Largest species, with grayish tints, and minimum amount of black. 



Smallest feet Jiegkcta. 



Sturnella magna, Swainson. 



MEADOW LARK ; OLD FIELD LARK. 



Alauda magna, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1758, l(j7, ed. 10 (based on Alauda magna, Catksby, 

 tab. 33). — Ib., (12th ed.,) 1766, 289. — Gm. I, 1788, 801. — Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 

 1811, 20, pi. xix. — Doughty, Cab. I, 1830, 85, pi. v. Sturnella magna, Swainson, 

 Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 436. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 535. — Samuels, 343. Stur- 

 nus ludovicianus, Linn^us, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 290. — Gm. I, 802. — Lath. Ind. I, 

 1790, 323. — Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, 130. —Light. Verz. 1823, No. 165. —Aud. Orn. 

 Biog. II, 1834, 216 ; V, 1839, 492, pi. cxxxvi. Sturnella huioviciana, Swainson, 

 F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 282. — Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 147. — Bon. List, 1838.— 

 Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 429. —Aud. Syn. 1839, 148. —Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 70, 

 pi. ccxxiii. — Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 192. —Allen, B. E. Fla. 288. Sturnella 

 collaris, Vieill. Analyse, 1816. — Ib. Galerie des Ois. I, 1824, 134, pi. xc. Sturnus 

 collaris, Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, 1.— Ib. Isis, 1831, 527. " Cacicus alaudarius, 

 Daudin," Cabanis. 



Sp. Char. 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 dark 

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

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

 maxilla ; sides, crissum, and tibite pale reddish-brown, streaked with blackish. A light 

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

 Female smaller and duller. Young with pectoral crescent replaced by streaks; the yellow 

 of under surface replaced more or less by ochraceous or pale fulvous. Length, 10.60 ; 

 wing, 5.00 ; tail, 3.70 ; bill above, 1.35. 



Hab. Eastern United States to the high Central Plains, north to Southern British 

 Provinces. England (Sclater, Ibis, III, 176). 



Habits. The eastern form of tlie Meadow Lark is found in all the eastern 

 portions of the United States, from Florida to Texas at the south, and from 

 Nova Scotia to tlie Missouri at the north. Eichardson met with it on the 



