ANDERSON — THE BIRDS OF IOWA. 



303 



with a rich, mellow, almost flute-like timbre. When once heard 

 it can not be mistaken. 



The Meadow Lark is a hardy bird, appearino^ with the earliest 

 migrants, and a few occasionally remain during the winter in 

 southern Iowa, Lee county (Praeger, Currier); Scott county (Wil- 

 son); and' a few have been seen in midwinter in Buena Vista 

 (John B. Crone, Iowa Orn., i, 2, 1895, P*4o)- They begin to nest 

 about the last of April and eggs have been found as late as July, 

 so that it is probable that two broods may be reared. 'The nest 

 is placed on the ground in meadows and pastures, very carefully 

 concealed. While pairs are usually isokted during the summer, 

 the Meadow Larks assemble in flocks in spring and fall. 



An albino specimen in the University museum. No. 3684, male, 

 was collected by J. T. Paintin at Coralville, Johnson county, July 

 30, 1889. The back is white with faint brownish tracings 01^ 

 secondaries and scapulars; throat and belly tinged with pale 

 canar\' yellow, brighter along median line of breast, and fading 

 anteriorly and posteriorly. 



218. (501). St7ir)iena mao^iia Jicg/ciia {\.Vid.). Western Meadow 

 Lark. 



The Western Meadow Lark is the commoner form of the spe- 

 cies in the western half of the state, and specimens have been 

 reported from a number of the eastern counties. There is con- 

 siderable evidence to show that this form is .slowly extending its 

 range eastward. The two forms are found together in most 

 parts of the state, but there appears to be very little intergration 

 and specimens are readily differentiated. 



Dr. J. A. Allen states: " In 1867 I found var. negleda the pre- 

 vailing form in central and western Iowa, from Boone county 

 westward" (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, v, i, 1880, p. 53). Prof. W. 

 J. McGee (Ibid, p. 53) noted 7ieglecta in Chickasaw county, May 

 25, 1879, one hundred miles farther east than any in which he 

 had previously seen the species. During the next few days he 

 saw perhaps a dozen individuals of negleda in Floyd and Mitchell 

 counties. He also says: "I saw several individuals (notably 

 one near Rudd, Floyd County) which I was totally unable to 

 identify as either 5". magna or 5. neglecta, either by markings, 

 habits, attitude or voice. They seem to hold an intermediate posi- 



