358 



BIRDS — ICTEEID^ . 



As its name implies, the Meadow Lark frequents meadows, fallow 

 fields, and sparse grassy woodland. It is rather a rare visitor in cities, 

 but in the country does not shun the vicinity of dwellings. In the fall 

 they gather in flocks, and are more silent and shy. At this time they 

 are somewhat esteemed as a game-bird, though few who eat them suspect 

 their relationship to the despised Blackbirds, or discover that of all our 

 birds they are the most frequently affected by internal parasites. 



The flight of the Meadow Lark is strong and quick, sometimes rather 

 heavy and jerky. Its song is loud, clear, and sweet, among the most 

 pleasant of bird voices in early spring. Mounted on the stake of a fence, 

 top of a stump or tree, he whistles he-ar, cheer, as if accompanying the 

 action to the word. The notes are often followed by a rapid, monotonous 

 chatter, not at all melodious, and which is often given alone when perch- 

 ing or flying. 



The nest of the Meadow Lark is placed on the ground, by the side of 

 a tussock of grass, often covered with a dome of grass, and sometimes 

 approached by a grass-covered way. The eggs are usually five or six, 

 white, more or less thickly spotted or dotted with reddieh-brown of vary- 

 ing shade. They measure about 1.10 by .80. Two broods are often raised 

 in a season. 



Svh-familylOT'K'RmM. Orioles. ' 



Bill slender, acute, as long as the head. Feet adapted for perching. 



Genus ICTEEUS. Brisson. 



Tarsus about equal to middle toe; claws short and curved. Outer lateral toe a little 

 longer than inner, reaching beyond base of middle claw. 



Icterus spueids (L.) Bp. 



Orcbard Oriole. 



Icterus spurius, Kirtland, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 163. — Audubon, B. Am., iv, 1843, 

 50.— Read, Fam. Visitor, iii, 1853, 311 ; Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sol., vi. 1853, 395.— 

 Wheaton, Ohio Agri'c. Eep. for 1860, 366; Reprint, 1861, 8; Food of Birds, etc., 

 Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 567 ; Reprint, 1876, 7.— Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 

 10; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 176; Reprint, 10. 



OHoliis spurius, Linn^us, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 162. 

 Icterus spurius, Bonaparte, Syn., 1828, 51. 



Male black, lower back, rump, lesser -wing-coverts, and all under parts from the 

 throat, deep chestnut; a whitish bar across the tips of greater ■wing-coverts; bill and 

 feet blue- black. Tail graduated. Length, about 7; wing, 3^; tail, 3. Female smaller, 

 plain yellowish-olive above, yellowish below ; wings dusky ; tips of the coverts, and 

 and edges of the inner quills, whitish ; known from the female of the other species by 

 its smaller size and very slender bill. Young male at first like the female, afterwards 

 showing confused characters of both sexes ; in a particular stage It has a black mask 

 and throat. 



