STURNELLA MA GNA . 



437 



"The habits of the Yellow-headed Blackbird partake in their character of those of the 

 Red-wings with which it usually associates. It is, however, more decidedly gregarious, 

 while it is also noticeably more terrestrial, being frequently scon on the ground wrJking 

 about with a stately, graceful step very much after the manner of the Cow Blackbird." 



"The Yellow-headed Blackbird usually, if not always, breeds in colonies, in which re- 

 spect it corresponds in habits with Brewer's Blackliird and other members of the family, 

 selecting for the purpose an extensive marsh filled with tules. It attaches its nest to the 

 reed stalks, fastening them between several upright stems. The material, and doubtless 

 also the exact position of the nest, probably vary more or less according to the character 

 of the locality. The males of this species loiter in the vicinity of the nests while the females 

 are incubating and, when their homes are invaded, circle about the intruder, uttering at 

 the same time harsh notes of distress. The song of this Blackbird is a very unmusical 

 affair. Indeed we cannot bring to mind any other of our native birds whose notes are so 

 discordant, and we know not with what to compare them unless it be the grating squawk of 

 a Guinea Fowl. The male, however, makes a great parade of himself when in a musical 

 humor, puffing out his feathers, strutting about in a very pompous manner, and then, after 

 a great heave and strain, delivers himself of a wheezy sort of s(^ueak which is evidently 

 satisfactory to himself, while it also seems to please his mate." 



GENUS V. STURNELLA. THE MEADOW LARKS. 



Uen. Cn. Bill, pointcfl, broad at tip, enual in leni/th to the head. Upper mandible very little curved. Winr/s very much 

 lonijer than the tail lohich i.i well rounded. Feet, larye. Sternum, narrower, but little cxcccdinij the heiijhlofthe keel in 

 width. Coracoids much shorter than the lop of the keel. Marginal indentations shallow and narrow. Stomach, not very 

 musiMlar. Size, larye. 



Members of this genn.s are conspicuously marked with yellow or other bright colois; below. The legs are loni,' ami the 

 tail short, iniliiating teiTCstrial habits. The females are smaller than the mal&i. 



STURNELLA MAGNA. 

 Meadow Lark. 



Slurnclla magna Sw.. Phil. Mag., 1; 1828, 43(i. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cii. Form, roliust. Size, large. Feet, very large and stout. Tongue, long, thin anil horny, W'ith a longitudinal 

 central depre,s.sion, and deeply bifid at tip, Init without any terminal cilia. Blue in ccjlor on the liasal half, remainder, 

 white. Sternum, as given above. 



Color. Adult male in summer. Above, including wings and tail, reddish-brown, with the feathers of the back and 

 rump having lighter edges and dark-brown centers. Wings and tail have either the central i)Ortions dark-brown with 

 confluent, transverse bars or with both webs barred without the central line. Outer feathers of tail, white, with some por- 

 tions of outer and inner webs more or les.s marked with brown. To)) of head, dark-brown, with a median line extending 

 fnrni the bill to the oeciput, yellowish-white. Sides of head, excepting dark-brown line back of eye, lores, sides of neck, 

 sides, flanks, umlcr wing coverts, and unier tail coverts, a.shy-white, more or less tinged with yellow, especially on the lat- 

 ter named portion, anl line extending from base of bill to point over eye, bright gamboge-yellow. Sjiots on sides, flanks, and 

 crescent shajied mark on breast, with the horns broadening out and extending up im tn the neck, black, liill, dark-brown, 

 bluish at ba.se of lower mandible. Feet, brown. 



Adult female in summer. Smaller in size than the males and with the<lark inarkings more or less obscured with brown- 

 ish-yellow. 



Adult in inintrr. Differs from the summer dress in being more rufous above and in having the Iilaek markings obscur- 

 ed with whitish. This is much more noticeable in the female, and in both sexes just after the antumnal moult. 



Youny of the year. Has the markings above more suffu.sed. There is very much less yellow in advance of the eye. 

 The entire under parts are overwashed with whitish nearly obscuring the black crescent. There is inore white on the tail. 



