138 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
GENUS STURNELLA. Vieillot. 
Bill lengthened, almost straight, depressed towards the tip ; edges sharp, the upper overlap¬ 
ping. Upper mandible somewhat rounded above ; frontal sinus deep, rounded. Nostrils 
oval, half closed by a corneous membrane above. Tarsus and middle toe subequal; late¬ 
ral toes nearly equal; hind nail longest and largest. Upper eyelid margined with strong 
bristles. Wings broad, moderate : second and third quills longest, first and fifth subequal; 
two of the inner secondaries nearly as long when the wing is closed. I ail of twelve acute 
feathers. Tongue narrow, sharp and bifid at the tip. 
THE MEADOW LARK. 
Sturnella ludoviciana. 
PLATE XIX. FIG. 42. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Sturnu$ ludovicianus, Lin. Crescent Stare, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vo!. 2, p. 230. 
Alauda magna, Bartram, p. 290 (his). 
Meadow Lark . Wilson, Am. Ora. Vol. 3, p. 20, pi. 19, fig. 2 (male). 
Slurnella ludoviciana. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. Vol. 2, p. 50. Nuttall, Man. Ora. Vol. 1, p. 147. Audubon, 
Birds of Am. Vol. 4, p. 70, pi. 223. 
The Crescent Meadow Starling. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 147. 
Characteristics. Beneath, and line over the eye, yellow : a black crescent over the breast. 
Four lateral tail-feathers white. Length, 11 inches. 
Description. Body above brown varied with chesnut, deep brown and black. Summit 
of the head dark brown, with a cream-colored stripe: a yellow stripe over the eye, passing 
into cream-color behind. Sides of the head and neck greyish white. Flanks, thighs and vent 
pale rufous brown, spotted with black. Neck and breast of a bright yellow, with a large 
crescent of black. Upper mandible brown; the lower bluish white. Tail wedge-shaped; 
the feathers pointed ; the four outer ones nearly all white ; the others brown, with interrupted 
bars of white. Legs and feet pale flesh-color. 
Length, 10'5-11'5. Alar spread, 15'0-16’0. 
The common Meadow Lark is well known, and is found in all parts of the State. I have 
seen them in the Atlantic district of the State during every season of the year. It breeds 
here, laying 4-5 white eggs with numerous reddish brown spots at the larger end. I have 
never seen the nest, but Audubon describes it as resembling an oven. In Virginia it is called 
the Oldjield Lark. Although frequently shot by young sportsmen, its flesh is rank and ill- 
flavored. In this State it does no injury, living on seeds and various insects : indeed it merits 
the protection of the law, although farther south it is charged with pulling up the seeds of 
wheat, rye and rice. It ranges from Mexico to the 56th degree of north latitude. 
