312 POULTRY AND WILD BIRDS 
501 Meadowlark. Length 10% inches. 
One of the most conspicuous birds on the prairies, open fields, and 
pastures. His ringing song can be heard a good distance, being a clear, 
metallic whistle ; he often delivers it from 
post or stone or other elevation. The 
nest is placed on the ground. The upper 
parts of the bird are mottled grays and 
browns; the breast is bright yellow with 
a black crescent ; he displays white outer 
tail feathers in flight. Arrives early in 
spring and remains till late autumn. A 
great favorite. 
The range of the eastern meadowlark 
extends westward to the Dakotas, where 
| that of the western variety begins, the 
two overlapping somewhat. The descrip- 
tion in this paragraph applies to both 
forms equally well. The western is somewhat paler in color than the 
eastern and his voice is considered clearer and more varied. 
MEADOWLARK 
507 Ballimore Oriole. Length 73 inches. 
One of the most beautiful birds, the male being brilliantly dressed in 
black and orange. Black is seen on the head, wings, and part of the 
back and tail; a rich reddish orange 
on the rest of the body. The colors of 
the female are more sober, being brown- 
ish above and dull yellow below. Its 
notes are loud, clear, and agreeable. It 
sometimes seems to say, Peter, Peter. 
No bird can build a better nest nor put 
it in a safer place. Common S.R. 
510 ©6©Brewer Blackbird. Length to 
inches. 
These are the blackbirds that often 
visit our dooryards, especially in the fall. BaLtimorE ORIOLE 
Not found east of western Minnesota. 
They are entirely black, but with purple sheen on the head, and greenish 
or bluish on the back. Head and neck of female brownish gray. The 
