816 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



These may be distinguished by the following characters : 



1. S. magna. Yellow of throat confined strictly between the maxillae. Lateral stripes 

 of the crown 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. Hob. Eastern United States to the border of the Great Plains. 



2. 8. neglecta. Yellow of the throat extending over the maxillae nearly or quite to the 

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

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

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

 prairie districts of the Mississippi Valley. 



It is sometimes rather difficult to distinguish specimens of these 

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

 tinguish them in life by their totally different notes probably no 

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



Sturnella magna (Linn.) 



MEADOWLARK. 



Popular synonyms. Fieldlark; Old Field Lark. 



Alauda magna LINN. S. N. ed. 10,1,1758,167. WILS. Am. Orn. Hi, 1811, 20, pi. 19. 

 Sturnella magna BAIBD, B. N. Am. 1858, 535; Cat N. Am. B. 1859, No. 406. COUES, Key, 

 1872. 157; 2d ed. 1884,406; Check List, 1874, No. 214; 2d ed. 1882, No. 320; B. N. W. 1874. 

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

 Am. B. 1881. No. 263. 

 Sturnus ludovicianus LINN. S. N. ed. 12, i. 1766, 290. NUTT. Man. i. 1832. 147. A UD. Orn. 



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



Sturnella ludoviciana Sw. 1831. AUD. Synop. 1839, 148; B. Am. iv, 1842, 70, pi. 223. 

 HAB. Eastern United States and British Provinces (north to about 53 in the interior), 

 west to the edge of the Great Plains; winters chiefly south of 38. Accidental in England. 

 "Sr. CHAB. 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 tibiae 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. Young with pectoral crescent replaced by streaks; the yel- 

 low of under surface replaced more or less by ochraceous or pale fulvous. Length, 10.60; 

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



Adultmale. Wing, 4.50-5.00; tail,3.50-3.85; culmen.l. 20-1.50; bill from nostril, .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 



