132 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



have gone south by the last of October, but a few remain 

 well toward December, especially in the southern counties. 



180. (498a.) Agelaius phceniceus fortis Ridgway, 



Thick-billed Red-wing. 



There is a specimen in the Oberlin College collection 

 which seems clearly to belong to this new race. It was 

 taken October 25, 1890, by C. A. Kofoid, at Oberhn. Ap- 

 parently this form should be found among the early spring 

 and late autumn Red-wings. The form has been so recently 

 elaborated that it has not been possible to examine specimens 

 in the different collections. 



181. (501.) Sturnella magna (Linn.). 118. 



Meadowlark. 



Synonyms: Sturnus ludovicianus, Sturnella ludoviciana, Alauda 

 magna. 

 Fieldlark, Old Fieldlark, Meadow Starling, Marsh Quail. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 162. 



Like the Crow, Meadowlark may remain in small num- 

 bers in the northern part of the state all winter. Long con- 

 tinued cold, and particularly snow, will usually drive all 

 south, or into some region not covered by snow. In the 

 southern counties, decreasingly northward, it is a regular 

 winter resident. No doubt the present condition of the 

 Meadowlark is due to the clearing away of the forests, but 

 unlike the Bobolink, it does not require so extensive fields 

 and therefore probably found natural clearings in the for- 

 ests possible breeding grounds before the appearance of the 

 white settlers. If so his numbers were far less than now. ' 



There should be no note of condemnation for this bird. 

 His services in the meadow and fields cannot be estimated 

 in values. Even during the winter insects comprise a large 

 proportion of his food, while practically no grain that could 

 be saved is eaten at any time. To say that 73 per cent, of 

 the whole amount eaten is insects, a large part of which eat 

 grains, is telling but half of the story. Being a ground 

 haunter, the insects destroyed are such as the other birds 



