CHAPTER XXVII. 



June 25 July 1. 



THE MEADOW LARK. 



Order Passeres Suborder Oscines 



Family Icteridse Genus Sturnella 



Species Sturnella magna. 



Length 9.50 to 11.00; wing, 4.40 to 5.00; tail, 3.16. 

 Migration North, February; south, November. 



"Up from the dewy grass, while yet 'tis dark 

 On trembling pinions, soars the meadow lark; 

 His brilliant breast like ruddy .orange glows; 

 From slender throat the liquid music flows." 



Of the true larks, family Alaudidse, there are about one 

 hundred species found in different parts of the world. Of 

 these the sky lark of Europe is the best known. The horned 

 larks are the only representatives of the family native to this 

 country. Thus it is seen that the meadow lark is not now 

 classed by the systematists with the lark family, but that it 

 has been placed in the family Icteridse, composed of the black- 

 birds, orioles, etc. Wilson in his American Ornithology places 

 it with the larks, and justifies himself in doing so by saying, 

 "He differs from the greater part of his tribe in wanting the 

 long straight hind claw, which is probably the reason why he 



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