l^^ NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



such remarkable contrast with the habits of our eastern birds. At Antelope 

 Station a pair of these birds had built their nest under the window of the 

 office, and seemed to enjoy the society of the family, while the depot-master, 

 familiar with the song and habits of our eastern birds, appreciated the great 

 differences between the two forms, and called my attention to them. 



Mr. Allen also found this Lark everywhere abundant in Colorado, but its 

 notes appeared to him quite diflerent from those of tlie representatives of 

 tliis species living to the eastward, in the prairie States, being less varied 

 and ringing, and more guttural. 



Dr. Cooper says this bird is abundant in California, and resident nearly 

 throughout the entire State, breeding in the Colorado Valley and in all other 

 districts not quite waterless. Their songs are lively, sweet, and varied. 

 They sing at all seasons, early and late, from the ground, from tlie tree-top, 

 or in the air, and when unmolested are so tame as to make the house-top 

 their favorite perch. Even the female has considerable musical power, and 

 cheers her mate by singing to him while he relieves her by sitting on the 

 eggs. She also has a harsh, petulant chirp, frequently repeated as if in 

 anger. He states that they build their nest in a slight depression under a 

 bunch of grass, and usually more or less arched over and artfully concealed. 

 The female, when flushed, usually skulks off some distance before she flies. 

 The eggs he describes as white, with a few large purplish-brown blotches and 

 dots towards the larger end, and measuring 1.15 inches by .85. They are 

 very obtuse in shape. 



They feed chiefly on insects, seeds, and grain, do no damage to the crops, 

 and destroy a vast number of noxious insects. 



Dr. Suckley found this bird common everywhere in Oregon and Washing- 

 ton Territory, some remaining throughout every winter. In 1855 a few 

 were seen at Fort Dalles as early as ]Marcli 5. On the 7th he found them 

 quite al3undant on the ploughed fields near Fort Vancouver. Some of these 

 had probably remained all the winter. In February, 1856, he found them 

 quite abundant at Fort Steilacoom. At Fort Dalles, by the 2d of May, he 

 obtained young birds nearly fledged. 



Mr. Dresser found it very common during winter near San Antonio, where 

 a few remain to breed. 



In Arizona, according to Dr. Coues, it is resident, but quite rare. 



Lieutenant Couch found these birds from the Kio Grande to the high 

 bottoms of the Lower Bolson de Mapimi. Its notes he speaks of as highly 

 musical, contending even with the Mocking Bird for a supremacy in song. 



Mr. Eidgway found the western Meadow Lark one of the most abundant 

 and characteristic birds of California and all fertile portions of the interior 

 as far east as the Missouri, and remarks that, although closely resembling the 

 ■ eastern bird in appearance, its song is totally different, not a note uttered 

 by it having more than a very distant resemblance to any of the well-known 

 magna of the eastern meadows. In the depth of its tone and the charms 



