214 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



down, putting the same insect up again and again until they tire 

 it out ; they pluck the wings off before swallowing their prey. 

 Their ordinary mode of progression is a slow walk, but when 

 pursuing their insect food, or getting out of the way of an ap- 

 proaching person, they are capable of running swiftly. They are 

 poor fliers, scarcely seeming to be abJe to make headway against 

 even a moderate breeze, and invariably flying down wind by 

 choice. Before leaving us in the fall, the families keep together 

 in small flocks, sheltering themselves during the heat of the day 

 among the foliage of trees or among long grass and weeds. They 

 sometimes sing while flying, but generally from the summit of a 

 low bush or tuft of grass, and their notes are much less musical 

 than those of their earlier representative. In spring, while 

 mating, these birds may be watched going through most extraor- 

 dinary manoeuvres ; taking up a position on a bare spot of 

 ground, a pair will stand about two feet apart, and for several 

 minutes at a time bow to one another with ludicrous solemnity, 

 occasionally varying the performance by short leaps into the air. 

 The nests are placed upon the ground, on the slope of a hill, and 

 beneath a tuft of long grass, which is carefully bent and woven 

 over it, so as to form a roof, and are large, untidy structures of 

 withered grass. Two broods at least are brought out, and the 

 eggs, which number four or flve, vary greatly in size and 

 markings. 



Stuenella neglecta, Aud. Western Meadow Lark. — This 

 species, never so abundant as the forms of its congener, is resi- 

 dent in the district, but is more often met with in winter than in 

 summer. They are less shy than S. niexicana, and even in 

 summer do not desert the neighbourhood of prairie homesteads, 

 frequently breeding in close proximity to houses. Their song is 

 much more varied and powerful than that of the other species, 

 and cannot be mistaken for it ; and their flight is also stronger, 

 the beats of the wings being much more continuous. They have 

 a curious habit, when flying away, of turning the head round from 

 side to side to look behind them. I found but one nest of this 

 species, which was built differently to those of the other larks, 

 being among short grass, perfectly open, without any attempt at 

 covering; the male was sitting upon three eggs. During the 

 winter they consort with parties of S. magna about the prairie 



