38 BIBDS OF KANSAS. 



the winter. Begin laying early in May. Nest on low bushes and occasionally 

 in tussocks of grass, on wet marshy grounds, a rather compact basket-like nest, 

 composed of coarse grasses, weeds, and in some cases bits of rushes, fast- 

 ened to and around the branches upon and against which it rests, and lined 

 with fine grasses. Eggs, four or five; .95x.70; light blue, with thick zigzag 

 markings of light and dark purple and blackish brown around large end, and 

 a few spots (5f the same colors scattered over the egg; in form oval. 



Genus STURNELLA Vieillot. 



B. 40(5. E. 263. C. 320. G. 133. U. 501. 



193. Sturnella magna (Linn.). Meadowlark. Resident; abundant in eastern 

 and middle, rare in western Kansas. Begin laying early in May. Nest on the 

 ground in a thick tuft of grass, composed of grasses whic hare often inter- 

 woven so as to form a cover overhead. Eggs, four to six; l.lOx.80; white, 

 finely spotted with lilac and reddish brown; in fortn oval. 



B. 407. R. 264. C. 322. G. 134. U. 5016, 



194. Stiirnella magna neglecta (AuD.). Western Meadowlark. Resident; com- 

 mon in western and middle, rare in eastern Kansas. Begin laying about the 

 middle of May. Nest and eggs similar to the above species. 



Genus ICTERUS Bkisson. 

 Subgenus PENDULINUS Vieillot. 



B. 414. R. 270. C. 324. G. 135. U. 506. 



195. Icterus spurius (Linn.). Orchard Oriole. Summer resident; abundant. 

 Arrive the last of April to first of May. Begin laying the last of May. Nest 

 suspended from twigs, at the end of branches of small trees, along the banks 

 of streams, and in orchards and gardens; a beautiful hemispherical nest, made 

 wholly of a long, slender, wire-like grass, and occasionally bits of a cottony 

 substance, neatly and ingeniously woven together and around the leaf-like 

 twigs that support it. Eggs, four or five; .85x.60; pale, bluish white, thinly 

 marked with specks and zigzag lines of light and bluish brown; thickest about 

 large end; in form oval. 



Subgenus YPHANTBS Vieillot. 



B. 415. R. 271. C. 326. G. 136. U. 507. 



196. Icterus galbula (Linn.). Baltimore Oriole. Summer resident; common. 

 Arrive the last of Ajiril to first of May. Begin laying the last of May. Nest 

 suspended from the extremities of branches, (the elm appears to be the favor- 

 ite tree,) fifteen to forty feet from the ground; a compact, strongly-woven, 

 deep, purse-like structure, composed of and attached to the twigs from which 

 it hangs, with flax-like strippings from plants and vines, and lined with hair- 

 like stems of grasses; when in the vicinity of dwellings, twine and thread are 

 used largely in its make-up. Eggs, four or five; .92x.60; pale, bluish white, 

 with a rosy hue when fresh, marked with long, waving lines, and spots of pur- 

 ple and blackish brown, chiefly at large end; in form oblong oval. 



B. 416. R. 272. C. 327. G. 137. U. 508. 



197. Icterus bullocki (Swains.). Bullock's Oriole. Included on the authority of 

 Prof. F. H. Snow, who enters the saAe in his catalogue of the birds of Kansas 



