igo^ 111 "] Belding, Soz/o-s of the Western Meadowlark. 2Q 



lighter in general hue and without the black blotches on the upper 

 parts so conspicuous in the examples from the other islands. It 

 is not. however, always easy to cause a description of allied forms 

 among Ptarmigans to bring to one's mind any one of them with 

 the clearness and unfailing accuracy that even one glance of the 

 eye is capable of producing, and the doubter then, who has no 

 access to the specimens, must form his opinion either mainly in 

 the ' dark ' or wait until access to sufficient specimens will enable 

 him to comprehend thoroughly their differences. 



I have conferred upon this subspecies the name of Mr. C. H. 

 Townsend of the United States Fish Commission, who has 

 brought many specimens of Ptarmigans from various islands in 

 the Aleutian Chain. 



SONGS OF THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 1 



BY L. BELDING. 



These songs of the Western Meadowlark {Sturnella magna 

 neglecta) were copied at Gridley, California. 



Numbers i and 2 are good examples of superior articulation. 

 The pitch of No. 9 is uncertain, but that of the others is correct, 

 or nearly so. 



These twelve songs are selections from the best songsters. I 

 have heard these songs many times, and have heard them sung 

 imperfectly oftener than otherwise. 



I have heard more writeable songs from this bird at this locality 

 than at any or all places where I have been in this State, and I 

 have always noticed the songs wherever I have been. 



1 For musical notations of songs of the Western Meadowlark as heard in 

 Colorado, see Charles N. Allen, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, VI, 1881, pp. 145-150; 

 as heard in Manitoba, see Ernest E. Thompson, Amer. Mag., April, 1887 

 (republished in Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. XIII, 1891, pp. 575-579)- — Edd. 



