22 



THE MEADOWLARK. 



No. 9. 



MEADOWLARK. 



A. O. U. No. 501. Sturnella magna (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Field Eark; Medi^ark; Mudeark (corruptionj ; Medlar (po- 

 etical j. 



Description. — Male : General color of upper parts brownish black modified 

 by tawny and buffish gray edgings of the feathers, the latter heaviest on second- 

 aries and upper tail-feathers, where it takes the form of partial bands ; cheeks, 

 median, and superciliary lines sordid white ; a large crescent on upper breast 

 black ; chin, upper throat, breast, middle belly, and line over eye bright yellow ; 

 sides and crissum black-streaked on a white or flaxen ground ; bill singularly 

 variegated, tawny, black, and white. Female : Like male but smaller and paler. 

 The plumage of both sexes is duller in fall and winter, the normal colors being 

 restrained by a profuse buffy overlay. Adult male, length lo.oo-ii.oo (254.- 

 279.4); av. of four Columbus males, wing 4.66 (118.4); tail 3. 10 (78.7); bill 

 1.26 (32.). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size ; yellow, with black or blackish collar, be- 

 low ; general streaky appearance above. 



Nest, a thin bed of dried grasses on the ground, usually covered or over- 

 arched by growing grass. Eggs, 4-6, white, speckled and spotted with cin- 

 namon-brown or purplish. Av. size, 1. 12 x .80 (28.5 x 20.3). 



General Range. — Eastern United States and southern Canada to the Plains. 

 Breeds from the Gulf of Mexico northward. 



Range in Ohio. — Wheaton's words, penned twenty-five years ago, are still 

 apt: "Abundant. Summer resident in northern, in part resident in middle, and 

 resident, but less numerous in winter, in southern Ohio." 



Tiikcn at McConnclsvillc. 



A PART OF MEADOWEARK'S DOMAIN. 



Fhoto [iv llic Author. 



