Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 557 



Mr. Oberholser has lately described this geographical race of the 

 Red-winged Blackbird, which is apparently indistinguishable from 

 the eastern form, except by size. According to Mr. Oberholser, 

 A. p. fortis Ridgway occupies the plains from northwestern Texas 

 to Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, and the large form which has 

 been recorded from Illinois is arctolegus. In a series of specimens 

 representing the two forms the measurements are as follows: 



Agelaius phoeniceiis, o', wing, 4.50 to 4.80; culmen, .81 to .92. 



Agelaius phceniceus, ? , wing, 3.84 to 4.05; culmen, .68 to .80. 



Agelaius p. arctolegus, d^, wing, 4.78 to 5.12; culmen, .90 to 1.02. 



Agelaius p. arctolegus, 9 , wing, 3.82 to 4.21; culmen, .67 to .81. 



Such geographical races are only of value to the specialist; but 

 for that reason great care should be taken in their identification. 

 The student should bear in mind that while the northern form arc- 

 tolegus averages larger than phceniceus, individual variation is consider- 

 able and it does not necessarily follow that a large New England spec- 

 imen should be recognized as arctolegus merely because its measure- 

 ments agree with one of medium size taken in Alberta. It is far bet- 

 ter to err on the side of conservatism than to burden Ornithological 

 literature with questionable records. 



Mr. Oberholser gives arctolegus as having been taken in Illinois 

 near Jacksonville and Bloomington, and the Museum possesses a male 

 specimen (No. 30358) taken near Chicago, Oct. 15, 1903, which might 

 be referred to this subspecies. The measurements are as follows: 



Wing, 5.08; culmen, .96; depth of bill at base, .48. 



Genus STURNELLA Vieill. 



227. Sturnella magna (Linn.). 

 Meadowlark. 



Distr.: "Eastern United States and southern Canada to the 

 Plains. Breeds from the Gulf of Mexico northward." (A. O. U.) 



Special characters : Upper plumage, black, bordered and tipped 

 with buff and rufous brown; crown with buff line through the center; 

 breast and upper portion of belly, bright yellow; yellow of throat 

 not extending over malar region; greater portion of under parts, 

 gamboge yellow; throat and breast separated by a crescent shaped 

 patch of black; flanks and under tail coverts, tinged with buff; 

 middle tail feathers and tertials with imperfect brown bars, which run 

 together along the shaft, not clearly separated; distinct bars extend- 

 ing across the feather as in the Western Meadowlark. 



Male: Wing, 4.50 to 5.10 inches; bill, 1.22 to 1.42 inches. 



