220 Birds of Xorth Carolina 



ky, streaked. Extreme measurements of 35 speeimens from Raleigh: L., 7.25-9.40; W., 

 )--4.80; T., 2.75-3.80. The males are con.siderably larger than the females, as is usual in the 



duskv, 

 3.75^,! 

 family. 



Range. — Temperate North .\meriea, wintering in tlie more .-^outliern States. 



Range in North Carolina. — Whole State at all seasons, exeept in tlie mountain region, wliere 

 it is chiefly a sununer visitor. 



Fia. 172. Red-wixc.ed lii.ACKmKn. 



The lictl-wingcd Blackliinl is tlir licst known incnilicr of the liliickliird l':iinily 

 in North Carolina. It hrccils in marshes throtiiihcuit tlic State. In the mountain 

 rogion it appcar.s to Ik- only a summer visitor, arriving in March or earher, t)ut in 

 the rest of tlie State it is founil at all seasons, although the floek.s in winter seem 

 to be composed almost entirely of females. In February and March their numbers 

 are greatly augmented by the arrival of migrants bound northward. At tiiis season 

 they feed to a great extent in the fields of newly planted grain, ])rol)ably doing 

 some damage by eating the sprouting seeds, and some good by destroying cutworms 

 and other noxious insects. After March, their numbers having been reduced to the 

 resident population, they confine themselves i)retty closely to the lowgrounds, where 

 they nest in reeds, cattails, or bushes growing in marshes. The nests are composed 

 of coarse marsii grasses, wov(>n together into deej) cu])-shaped structures. The 

 eggs in this State are laid in May and .Ivme, and are usually four in number. In 

 color they are pale bluish, marked with tlots and lines that look as if they had been 

 made with pen and ink. Size 1.00 x .70. 



Speaking of this bird, Coues wrote: "In the breeding season the 'creaking- 

 chorus' makes an indescribabl(> medley." 



Genus Sturnella Vieill.) 

 205. Sturnella magna magna (/.//iH.). Mkadowlahk; ■ Kiki-d Lauk." 



De.fcri j)tii)7i . — Mueh streaked above. Breast and most of imderparts yellow, a black crescent 

 on breast, l)elly whitish. Extreme measurements of 35 siieeimens from Ualeigh: L., S.GO-10.60; 

 W., 4.0.-)-5.05;"t., 2.30-3.15. 



Gemriit Ronqe. — Eastern United States, wintering in the iiHire soulliern States. 



Rniiye in North Cnrolimi. — Whole State in winter, in summer recorded only from portions of 

 the mountain and the coast regions. 



