212 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



of the East it is exceeded by the good done by the birds in destroying 

 insects. Extermination of these birds is very undesirable, and indeed 

 hopeless, as far as ordinary methods are concerned, and as the best 

 method for protecting grain, it is suggested to thoroughly tar the seed 

 when planting, and to adopt methods for frightening the birds off 

 during the period of sprouting and early growth. 



501 Sturnella magna (Linnaeus). 

 Meadow Lark. 



PLATE 51. 



Adult male. — Length, 10.75. Wing, 4.50-5. Feathers of upper parts dusky, 

 broadly margined with rusty brown and buff; head, black, with a median pale 

 buff stripe and a similar one over the eye, becoming bright yellow in front ; a 

 black stripe behind the eye ; sides of face, whitish ; wing and middle tail 

 feathers, grayish-brown, with a series of transverse black bars, more or less 

 connected down the shaft ; three outer tail feathers largely white, next one 

 with a white stripe ; lower parts, bright yellow, with a crescent-shaped black 

 patch on the breast joining a small triangular spot on each side of the throat ; 

 sides of breast heavily streaked with black ; flanks and crissum. pale buff, 

 streaked with dusky. In icinter, similar, but all the feathers broadly edged 

 with brown or deep buff, obscuring the markings and making the under parts 

 dai'ker. 



Adult female. — Similar, but smaller. Wing. 4. 



Young in first summer. — Similar to adult above ; below, very pale yellow ; 

 breast and sides, buff, streaked with dull black. 



Nest on the ground among the grass, generally arched over, composed of dry 

 grass ; eggs, four to six, white, spotted with reddish-brown, 1.10 x .80. 



Abundant resident, but less common in the northern part of the 

 State in winter, during which season it frequents the low flats along 

 rivers and seashore. Migrants return to the upland about March 8th. 



The Meadow Lark is one of the most characteristic birds of the open 

 field. Always on the alert, it seldom allows a very close approach. Imt 

 takes wing, and with alternate sailing and rapid fluttering of the 

 wings goes on ahead to a place of safety. Its white lateral tail 

 feathers and the single harsh note as it takes wing are characteristic, 

 while the well-known song resembling somewhat the syllables "can't see 

 me" is familiar to everyone. 



Although an eminently terrestrial species, the Meadow Lark occa- 

 sionally perches in the tree-tops, especially in the mating season, when 

 one bird is pursuing another, and also in winter, when the snow has 

 buried the feeding grounds. 



