• THE MEADOWLARK. 461 



in the shape of irreguhxr and coarse blotches, mixed with finer specks and dots; in 

 fact, there is an endless variation in the style of markings. 



The average measurement of a series of two hundred and one specimens in 

 the United States National Museum collection is 27.75 by 20.35 millimetres, or 

 1.09 by 0.80 inches. The largest egg measures 30.78 by 22.61 millimetres, 

 or 1.21 by 0.89 inches; the smallest, 21.59 by 18.29 millimetres, or 0.85 by 



0.72 inch. 



The type specimen. No. 23755 (PI. G, Fig. 20), from a set of four eggs, taken 

 by Mr. C. W. Richmond, near Washington, District of ColumV)ia, on May 12, 

 1889, has been selected to show the occasional variation in the ground color, 

 being a pale green in this instance. No. 25858 (PI. 6, Fig. 21), from a set of 

 five eggs, Ralph collection, taken by Dr. William L. Ralph, in Oneida County, 

 New York, on May 20, 1882, represents a normally colored and average-marked 

 egg of this species. 



i8o. Sturnella magna mexicana (Sclater). 



MEXICAN MEADOWLARK. 



Sturnella mexicana ScLATER, Ibis, 1S()1, 179. 



Sturnella imujna var. mexicana Baibd, Brewer and Ridgway, History of North Ainericau 

 Birds, Vol, II, 1874, 172. 



(B _, C — , R 263rt, C 321, U SOla.) 



Geographical ranoe : Central and northern Mexico and contiguous border of the 

 United States; from southern Arizona to the lower Rio Grande Valley, in Texas, and pos- 

 sibly along the Gulf coast to southern Florida; south to Costa Rica, Central America. 



The breeding range of the Mexican Meadowlark, a somewhat smaller 

 race than the preceding, with a smaller l)ill and larger and stouter feet, is con- 

 fined to our southern border, as indicated above. It apjjears to be rather 

 uncommon within the limits of the United States, unless we include the small, 

 dark bird found in southern Florida, which Mr. Frank M. Chapman refers to 

 this subspecies. He makes the following remarks about the Florida bird: 



"Abundant. Comparison will not jiermit me to refer the small, dark 

 Meadowlark, resident in Florida, to Sturndla mar/ua, and while they are not 

 full}' typical of Stuntella magna mexicana, they approach it so closely as to appar- 

 ently render sul)specific separation impossible. The Florida birds are perhaps 

 slightly darker above, tlie neck gorget is somewhat wider, and the yellow of the 

 under parts has more of a sulphur tint than in Mexican specimens." ^ 



Among- the series of skins in the United States National IMuseum collection 

 are specimens from Tennessee and southern Indiana which arc about as dark 

 and as small as the southern Florida birds; the difference, if any, is very trifling, 

 and if the Florida bird is admitted to be Sturnella magna mexicana, these would 

 also have to be included in this race. They certainly differ considerably from 

 some skins examined by me, which were taken near Brownsville, Texas, and 



'The Auk, Vol. V, 1888, p. 273. 



