&16 BIEDS OF ILLINOIS. 



These may be distinguished by the following characters : 



1. S. magna. Yellowof throat confined strictly between the maxillsB. Lateral stripes 

 of the oroAi-n with black predominating; upper parts with much black, and with the dark 

 bars of the tertials and middle tail-feathers usually connected along the middle line of 

 the feathers. Hah. Eastern United States to the border of the Great Plains. 



2. S. neglecta. Yellow of the throat extending over the maxillie nearly or quite to the 

 angle of the mouth. Lateral crown stripes streaked with black and grayish inneirly 

 equal amount; upper parts with less black, the dark bars of the tertials and middle tail- 

 feathers not connected. Rah. Western United States and western Mexico, east to the 

 prairie districts of the Mississippi Valley. 



It is sometimes rather difficult to distinguish specimens of those 

 two species ; but the most casual observer of birds may readily dis- 

 tinguish them ill life by their totally different notes — probably no 

 two species of any genus of birds being more distinct in tliis respect. 



Sturnella magna (Linn.) 



MEADOWLAEK. 



Popular synonyms. Fieldlark; Old Field Lark. 



Alauda magna LiNN. S. N. ed. lU,i,1758,lG7.— WrLS. Am. Orn. iii,1811,20, pi. 19. 

 Sfurnelln magna Bated, B. N. Am. 1S58, 535; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859,No. 406.— CoUES, Key, 

 1872, ]57; 2d ed. 1884, JOG; Check List, lS74,No. 214; 2d ed. 1882, No. 320; B. N. W. 1874, 

 190 (part).— B. B. & B. Hist. N. Am. B. ii, 1874, 174, pi. 34, fig. 2.— Eidgw. Nom. N. 

 Am. B. 1881, No. 263. 

 Sturnus ludovicianus Linn. S. N. ed. 12, i, 1766, 290.— Nutt. Man. i, 1832, 147.— AwD. Orn. 

 Biog. ii, 1834,216; v, 1839, 492, pi. 136. 

 Sturnella ludomciana Sw. 1831. -AuD. Synop. 1839, 148; B. Am. iv,1842,70,pl. 223. 



Hab. Eastern United States andBritish Provinces (north to about 53° in the interior), 

 ■westto theedgeof the GreatPlains; winters chiefly south of 38°. Accidental inEngland. 



"Sp. Chae. The feathers above dark brown, margined with brownish white, and with 

 a terminal blotch of pale reddish brown. Exposed portions of wings and tail with dark 

 brown bars, which on the middle tail-feathers are confluent along the shaft. Beneath 

 yellow, with a black pectoral crescent, the yellow not extending on the side of the 

 maxilla; sides, crissum, and tibite pale reddish brown, streaked with blackish. Alight 

 median and superciliary stripe, the latter yellow anterior to the eye; a black line behind. 

 Female smaller and duller. Toung with pectoral crescent replaced by streaks; the yel- 

 low of under surface replaced more or less byochraceousor pale fulvous. Length, 10. 60; 

 wing, 5.00; tail, 3.70; bill above. 1.35." {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Adultmale. Wins. 4.50-5.00; tail, 3. 50-3.85; oulmen.l.2(^-l. 50; biUfromnostril,.75-.95; 

 tarsus,1.35-1.60; middle toe. 1.10-1.30. 



Adult female. Wing about 4.20, tail 3.00. 



Four adult males from Mount Carmel measured, when fresh, as 

 follows : Total length, 9.75-10.50; extent, 15.00-15.75. 



In a work whose acknowledged aim is to give information to the 

 interested reader, it seems almost presumptuous on the part of the 

 author to offer any remarks on the habits of so well-known a bird 



