302 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



migrations, the Great Plains, from eastern base of Rockj^ Moun- 

 tains to Manitoba, Miimesota (Fort Snelling, May ii); Nebraska 

 (Omaha, March 9); Iowa (Burlington, Oct.), etc.; western Illi- 

 nois (Henderson couaity, Morgan county, March)." (Ridgwa}-, 

 Bds. of N. and Mid. Am. Part II.) 



Four specimens from the Talbot collection at the University 

 were submitted to Robert Ridgvvay who pronounced them /orii's. 

 No. 12467, Blue Lake, Iowa, October 22, 1884. W. 120"™; T. 

 80"""; B. (culmen) 21; B. (depth) ii.5'"'". 12466, Blue Lake, 

 1885, W. 128, T. 86; B. (culmen) 23; B. (depth) 12.5. 12468, 

 Monona count}', Iowa, October 14, 1884, W. 122; T. 82; B. 24; 

 B. (depth) 13. 12459, Monona county, Iowa, October 14, 1884, 

 W. 124; T. 93; B. (culmen) 24; B. (depth) 13. 



The collection contains ten other specimens from Blue Lake 

 and Monona county, 1884-85, which conform to the measure- 

 ments given for fortis. The Thick-billed Redwing will without 

 doubt prove to be a fairly common migrant in Iowa when series 

 of specimens taken in migrations are examined critically. 



Subfamily STURNELLIN^. Meadow Starlings. 



Genus Sturnella Vieillot. 



217. (501). StitrneUa magna {\J\w\\.). Meadow Lark. 



The Meadow Lark is a summer resident in all parts of Iowa, 

 being found in nearly all meadows and pastures in the eastern 

 part of the state, arriving in the middle of March and remaining 

 sometimes until the middle of October. In western Iowa the 

 Western Meadow Lark is the more common form. C. R. Ball 

 reports viagiia as breeding in Lyon county (Iowa Orn., i, 2, 1895, 

 p. 40), and Dr. Trostler reports it as a scarce resident in Pottawat- 

 tamie and Mills. 



The eastern form magna is distinguished by having the black 

 bars on wings and tail confluent along shaft of the feathers and 

 yellow of chin usuall}' confined between rami of lower mandible. 

 The western form negleda is duller and paler, with black on wdngs 

 and tail usually resolved into distinct bars, and the yellow of chin 

 usually encroaching on sides of lower jaw. The notes of the two 

 species are strikingly different, the Eastern Lark having a clear, 

 plaintive whistle, while the Western bird has a much louder tone, 



