896 Eeport of State Geologist. 



111. (jRNiis STURNELLA Vikh.lot. 



-191. (501). Sturnella magna (Linn.). 



Meadow Lark. 



Adult. — Above, prevailing color black, crown with buff middle 

 stripe; yellow and buff stripe over eye, black stripe from eye back; 

 cheeks, ashy; back, streaked with brown, and buffy; outer tail feathers, 

 white, middle ones pointed; they with the inner quills and wing cov- 

 erts, barred or scalloped with black and brown, or gray; edge of wing 

 and spot in front of eye, bright yellow; below, yellow, a black crescent 

 on breast; sides and crissum, whitish, with black spots. 



Male.— Length, 9.50-11.00; wing, 4.40-5.00. Few aZe.— Length, 

 8.00-10.00; wing, 3.95-4.30. 



Range. — Eastern North America, from Gulf of Mexico north to 

 Nova Scotia and Manitoba; west to Great Plains. Winters from Kan- 

 sas, Indiana and Massachusetts, southward. Breeds throiigl\(Mit its 

 range. 



Nest, in meadow, in depression in ground, of grass and weeds, 

 arched over and protected by growing grass. Bggs, 3-7; white, spotted 

 and blotched with brown or purple; 1.09 by .89. 



Abundant summer resident. Resident in the southern portion of 

 the State. Some severe winters it mostly or entirely leaves. Other 

 winters it is found throughout the State. It has been reported in 

 winter from Brookville, where it remains during mild winters; Wa- 

 bash County, often (Ulrey and Wallace); Carroll County, occasionally 

 a few (Evermann); Brown, often (Barnett); Zanesville, Wells County, 

 remained, 1896-7 (Hamilton); Petersburg, Mich., a few remained, 

 1896-7 (Trombley). In the northern part of the State the migration 

 begins: In Dekalb County, as early as February 12, 1891, and as late 

 as March 17, 1886; in Cook County, 111., March 20, 1888, March 28, 

 1885. In the southern part of the State, most years, the migrations 

 begin in February, and frequently they are common by February 20. 

 I have known them in full song March 8 (1893). 



But mating does not usually begin until early April; sometimes, 

 however, it is observed in March. Sometimes the bird scoops out a 

 hole in the side of a tussock of grass and builds its nest, arching it 

 over with the grass above. Usually it is placed in a little depression 

 in the ground. It is made of such materials as are at hand — grasses of 

 varying coarseness — and a lining of finer growth. The male sings 

 while the female works. Prof. W. P. Shannon found a nest, with 

 three eggs, near Greensburg, April 25, 1896, while I have taken the 



