GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 

 Sfurnella neglecta, And., (western lark:) 



687 



Hal). — Western America, from high central plains to the Pacific j east 

 to Pemhina, Dakota. 



The western lark, a mere variety of our common eastern meadow 

 lark, (iS'. magna.) from which it is scarcely distinguishable by the casual 

 observer, is as common west of the Eocky Mountains as the latter 

 species is in our Eastern States. The song of the two birds is, however, 

 entirely difterent. I i)rocured three nests of this species at Ogden; 

 they differ essentially from those of our eastern species in being rudely 

 constructed of dry grass placed loosely in a little hole iu the ground, with 

 no aim at concealment, while our meadow-lark builds a neat covered 

 nest perfectly concealed in a bunch of grass. The eggs closely resemble 

 those of 8. magna. 



(Sub-family Quiscallncv, the Grow BlaclcMrds.) 

 Scolecophagus cyanoceplialtis, Cab., (Brewer's blackbird :) 



HaJ). — High central plains to the Pacific, south to Mexico ; Pe«ibiua, 

 Dakota. 



Brew^er's blackbird, west of the Eocky Mountains, takes the place of 

 our common rusty blackbird, {S. fernigineus,) which it closely reseuibles. 

 We met with them in abundance at nearly all points on our route, al- 

 though they were not so common in the densely-wooded regions on the 

 mountains as they were among the bushes and cottonwoods bordering 

 the streams and rivers that run through the dry, arid plains. They 

 breed about the middle of Juue, laying dark-colored eggs, blotched all 

 over with dark brown and chocolate. 



Family 19.— Corvid^e, the Crows. 

 (Sub-family OarmlUuv, the Jays.) 

 Pica hiidsonica, Bonap., (common magpie :) 



Hah. — Arctic regions of North America ; United States, from the high 

 central plains to the Pacific, north of California. 



