22 Kopman, Birds of Louisiana. [jan. 



212. Southern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna argutula). Common 

 resident of the State, but rather irregularly distributed in the fertile region 

 of the southeast. More or less common in that section in the neighborhood 

 of cultivation, especially on the sugar plantations. Even among resident 

 birds there are decided differences in size and coloring. In the Bayou 

 Teche section I have taken some very small, dark-colored birds in summer. 

 These are noticeably different from other specimens taken in winter in the 

 southern part of the State, though I believe that the latter were of the same 

 subspecies and represented a breeding form in some portion of the State if 

 not in the localities where taken. 



213. Orchard Oriole {Icterus spurius). The most conspicuous sum- 

 mer visitor in the fertile alluvial section of southeastern Louisiana. Occurs 

 in the greatest profusion in practically all situations except the unbroken 

 swamps, but is most abundant in the vicinity of habitation and cultivation. 

 Is abundant along ditches, bayous, canals, etc., in the open marsh, and on 

 grassy, bushy islands along the coast. Occurs also in greater or less abun- 

 dance in all other portions of the State in the vicinity of cultivation, but 

 seldom in the forests and swamps. 



Its abundance as a breeder in the southeastern portion of the State, how- 

 ever, can scarcely be comprehended by those whose acquaintance with it is 

 confined to its appearance in more northern localities. In one live oak in a 

 plantation yard where there were many more trees of this kind I once 

 counted nearly twenty nests of this species. 



The average date of arrival of the male at New Orleans is March 25. 

 The first female arrives usually about April 5, and the male becomes 

 common at the same time. The females become common in a few days. 

 The first male may be either a second-year or a mature bird, but in either 

 case is almost invariably singing. 



Nesting is usually started shortly after April 20. The construction of the 

 nest is rather deliberate. While nesting is usually well started by the first 

 part of May, there are decided discrepancies in the time. The three fol- 

 lowing cases noted in a single season will illustrate these discrepancies: 

 Nest No. 1 — May 9. nest discovered and apparently complete; May 13. 

 contained 3 eggs; May 14, complement of 4 eggs complete; May 27, 

 contained young, apparently two days old. Nest No. 2. — Discovered May 

 22, contained no eggs. Nest No. 3 — ■ Discovered May 22, contained 

 young about 5 days old. 



There is almost if not quite as much variation in the time of rearing the 

 second brood. On July 8 1 have found a nest with a complement of fresh 

 eggs and the next day two nests with young. 



Orchard Orioles begin to flock in southern Louisiana and Mississippi in 

 the latter half of July. The song is seldom heard after Aug. 1. In 1912, 

 however, I heard one sing on Sept. 12. 



This species becomes inconspicuous at Gulf coast latitude after the 

 middle of August, though little companies of them may be in evidence for a 

 few days at a time at intervals until Sept. 10 or 15. Such transients usually 



