1914] Bryant: Economic Status of the Western Meadowlark 403 



Meadowlarks were more abundant in the vicinity of Lathrop 

 than in the vicinity of Acampo. There is very little pasture land 

 in the vicinity of Acampo. This, if not the main reason, is one 

 of the important ones which account for this contrast in abun- 

 dance. Another contrast in abundance can be noted from the 

 following censuses, two taken at Los Banos, Merced County, 

 July 11, 12, 1912, and the other at Merced, Merced County, 

 July 17, 1912. Those at Los Banos were taken while walking 

 less than five miles, and occupied about four and three hours 

 respectively. The one at Merced was taken while driving about 

 fourteen miles, and occupied the time between 1 :30 and 5 

 o'clock. 



It is evident, therefore, that the abundance of this species of 

 bird is largely affected by locality. Probably in the last analysis 

 food supply is the important factor. This brings us to the 

 question : Can the western meadowlark obtain its natural food 

 in cultivated fields as easily as in the uncultivated? If we con- 

 sider insects as vegetable feeders, then we should expect to find 

 the best insect supply where plant growth was most luxuriant. 

 The cultivation of land destroys much of the natural plant 

 growth, and therefore must diminish the food supply of the 

 insects enough to vary the abundance. Grasshoppers, cutworms, 

 and wireworms can usually be found more abundant in grassy 

 pasture land than in orchards or grain fields. Hence it is a 

 natural consequence that we find meadowlarks frequenting un- 

 tilled land more often than tilled land. 



The censuses taken also, demonstrated the fact that meadow- 

 larks were found in the pasture land in greater abundance during 

 the middle of the day than in the morning hours of feeding. 

 During the hotter periods of the day these birds hide in the 

 grass. Open fields are seldom chosen at this time of the day. 



