Descriptive List 221 



This is a commoii winter visitor in all portions of the State, feeding in open 

 fields and pastures, and to some extent in lowground meadows. It arrives from 

 the north about the middle of October and leaves in April, although individuals 

 have been recorded earlier in fall and later in spring. The summer records are 

 few and scattering. Cairns found but one nest in Buncombe County in five years 

 collecting, while in the east Dr. Smithwick records a single nest found in Bertie 

 County, and states that it is a rare breeder near LaGrange, Lenoir County. C. S. 

 Brimley found the species near Lake Ellis, Craven County, in late May, 1906-8, 

 and late June, 1905. Evidently these liirds had settled down for the summer. 

 Joseph Armfield reports finding one or more nests at Greensboro in Ciuilford 

 County, and Pearson found it a regular summer resident there, but never located 

 a nest. 



This species is one of the most insectivorous of the family. Instead of being 

 persecuted as a game bird, it has always deserved the fullest protection because of 

 its value as a destroyer of insects injurious to the farmer's crops. As a destroyer 

 of sprouting corn, the dejjr'cdations it commits are grossly exaggerated. It is now 

 protected at all times under Federal regulations. 



Fig. 173. Meadowlark. 



The nest is placed on the ground under a tuft of grass, and is compactly made 

 of coarse grass, lined with finer materials. The eggs are four to six in number, of 

 a pure white ground-color, and more or less thickly spotted or dotted with reddish 

 brown or purpHsh. Size 1.10 x .80. May and June are the nesting months. 



The Mcailo-\\-lark is social in its habits, being found in flocks when not engaged 

 in rearing its young. Its flight is very characteristic, as it proceeds by alternately 

 flapping its wangs and sailing. When rising from the ground the tail is usually 

 spread, revealing the white jiortion of the outer tail-feathers. 



206. Sturnella magna argutula (Bangs). Southern Meadowlark. 



Description. — Similar to the Meadowlark, but .size .smaller, and colors darker, the yellow of 

 the underparts much more inten.se, and the upperparts much darker in color, the dark central 

 areas of the feathers being much greater in extent, and the light edges much less; tail and wings 

 darker, the liarring on middle tail-quills, and on secondaries, tertials, and wing-coverts, much 

 wider and more pronounced. W., 4.00-4.1.3; T., 3.00. 



Range. — Austroriparian zone from North Carolina (on the coast) and Illinois to Texas, Louisi- 

 ana, and Florida. 



Range in North Carolina. — Coastal region in summer; possilily resident. 



