140 MEADOW LARK. 



Ne.it/iny.i. Are similar to the adult above, excepting that there is no yellow on the superciliary Iin3 and the brown of 

 the head is mixed with reddish. Beneath, uniform pale yellow, lighter 'in the female on tha throat, with the sides, flanks, 

 and a crescent-shaped patch on the breast, spotted and lined with dark-brown. Bill and feet, brown, the former lighter on 

 lower mandible. But what is most singular is that in this stage there is much more white on the tail than in any other 

 stage. The wing and tail feathers are moulted. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known from all other birds by the description as above. As will be seen by the measurements, Florida speci- 

 mens differ in being smaller and they are also brighter in color. Theso-callad "nei/lecta" from the West differs in having the 

 yellow extend up on the maxillary, which is seldom if ever seen on more eastern skins. Individuals from the same locality 

 do not vary much either in size or color. Distributed in summer throughout the United States south of the latitude of 

 Southern New Hampshire, usually retreating a little southward in winter. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of ten male specimens from Massachusetts. Length, 10*40; stretch, IG'30; wing, 4*00; tail, 

 3" 16; bill, 1*25; tarsus, 1'30. Longest specimen, ll'OO; greatest extent of wing, 17*00; longest wing, 5' 15; tail, 3'50; bill, 

 1 - 30; tarsus, 1-25. Shortest specimen, 9*95; smallest extent of wing, 15*07; shortest wing, 4*76; tail, 2*83; bill, 1*18; Un-sus, 

 1-39. 



Average measurements of nine female specimens from Massachusetts. Length, 9*55; stretch, 14*43; wing, 4*29; tail, 

 2*82; bill, 120; tarsus, T39. Longest specimen, 9" 75; greatest extent of wing, 15*03; longest wing, 4*50; tail, 3*11; bill, 

 1*25; tarsus, 1*4-1. Shortest specimen, 8*98; smallest extent of wing, 13*50; shortest wing, 4*15; tail, 2*48; bill, 1'IG; tarsus, 

 1*24. 



Average measurements of ten male specimens from Florida. Length, 9*80; stretch, 15*70; wing, 4*45; tail, 2*85; bill, 

 1*20; tarsus, 1*46.. Longest specimen, 10*20; greatest extent of wing, 15*75; longest wing, 4*60; tail, 3*20; bill, 1*23; tarsus, 

 1*45. Shortest specimen, 9*50; smallest extent of wing, 14*75; shortest wing, 4*25; tail, 2*82; bill, 1*15; tarsus, 1*35. 



Average measurements of fourteen female specimens from Florida. Length, 9*55; stretch, 1*44; wing, 4*25; tail, 2*82; 

 bill, 1*18; tarsus, 1*30. Lrmga^t spaciman, 9*53; greats-it extent of wing, 11*75: longest wing, 4*65; tail, 2*90; bill, 1*20; 

 tarsus. 1*35. Shortest specimen, 8*50; smallest extent of wing, 13*00; shortest wing, 3*90; tail, 2*40; bill, 1*1.3; tarsus, 1*25. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground. They are composed of grass lined with finer. Dimensions; external diameter, 5*10, in- 

 ternal, 2*12. External depth, 5*15, internal, 2' 15. 



Ejys, oval inform, four to six in nu n'j3r, pure whits in color, spattad anl blotched with redish-brown and lilac, move 

 thickly on the larger end. Dimensions from 1*05 x *7() to 1* 15 x '80. 



HABITS. 



The famous Indian Hunting Grounds of Florida which lie south of the Everglades, 

 are very remarkable as the topography of the country is quite different from any that I 

 ever saw elsewhere in the state. A narrow strip of high pine land extends along the coast, 

 but back of this is a wide reach of prairie that is bounded on the west by a strip of pincy 

 woods beyond which is another stretch of open land, thus prairies and woods alternate for 

 many miles. The growth of grass on the margins of these plains is low, seldom exceeding 

 six inches in height, and consequently forms the homes of countless Meadow Larks, for 

 these birds always exhibit a decided preference for low herbage. The Hunting Grounds 

 were a perfect wilderness at the time of my visit in 1871, for there was but one settler and 

 he was newly located in the neighborhood. The nearest house to the eastward was thirty 

 miles distance and to the westward and northward hundreds of miles intervened before 

 there was the slightest vestige of civilization. Thus the birds which occured there were 

 seldom if ever disturbed so that I found them exceedingly tame; in fact they would start 

 up at my feet, fly a few yards, and either settle down again in the grass or alight on a low 

 Ihnb of a pine, where they would quietly gaze at me, even allowing me to pass directly 

 beneath them without attempting to move. Then as if satisfied that I intended doing then- 

 no harm, would sound aloud, strange note which was so utterly at variance with the song 



