SOME COMMON BIRDS 299 



Color. Head with long crest; above ashy metallic blue; 

 beneath pure white; band across breast; tail marked with white. 

 Song. None; loud harsh cry only. 

 Food. Nearly all fish. 



Nest. In deep holes in banks near water. 

 Eggs. Six; laid on bare sand; clear crystal white, nearly round. 

 Habitat. All United States. 

 Specific habitat. Banks of streams. 

 Migration. March 20 to October 20. 



Meadow Lark. 

 Shirnella magna. 



Oriole family. 



Syn. Field lark. 



Length. 10.5 inches. 



Color. Dark brown above; wings and tail dark brown stripes; 

 beneath yellow; sides reddish brown; female smaller and duller. 



Song. Beautifully sweet; no variety; some call notes while 

 not unpleasant mar the song. 



Food. The larger per cent insects. 



Nest. Always on ground hidden in tall grass. 



Eggs. Vary in size and markings; white with brown spots; 

 shape oval; nearly equal at both ends. 



Habitat. Eastern United States. 



Specific Habitat. Old fields and meadows; never woods. 



Purple Martin. 

 Progne sub is. 



Swallow family. 



I,ength. 7.5 inches. 



Color. General steel blue shiny; tail dull black; under 

 wings white. 



Song. None. Not unpleasant twitters. 



Nest. Formally in hollow trees ; now in nesting boxes or towers ; 

 loose; fine dry leaves, straw, etc.; lined with feathers. 



Eggs. Uniform creamy white. 



Food. Very harmful insects. 



Habitat. All United States. 



Specific habitat. Near habitations. 



Migration. May i to August 25. 



