CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 433 



of fine grass, placed in a hole in the ground in a meadow where the 

 grass was several inches high. (Meeking.) 



5016. Western Meadpw Lark. 



Sturnella magna neglecta (AuD.) Allen. 1872. 



One specimen of this species was taken by Mr. G. R. White within 

 the city of Ottawa. The bird was singing on top of an elm tree when 

 shot. 



All the meadow larks observed on the International Boundary, 

 lat. 49°, were this form. They are a common bird of the whole 

 country, though less numerous as we approach the Rocky moun- 

 tains. {Coues.) An abundant summer resident of the prairie part 

 of Manitoba, breeding freely at all points. (E. T. Seton.) A num- 

 ber was seen along the Red river between Winnipeg and West Sel- 

 kirk, June 14th, 1 90 1. Specimens procured at Winnipeg have been 

 examined and prove referable to this form. (Preble.) Abundant 

 at Aweme, Man". (Criddle.) Abundant all over Manitoba and 

 west to Edmonton along the hne of the G.T.P. Ry. (Atkinson.) 

 The prairie lark is a common summer resident between the forks of 

 the Saskatchewan; breeding throughout the country. (Coubeaux.) 

 This beautiful bird arrives on the Saskatchewan about the begin- 

 ning of May, but was not seen any further north. (Richardson.) 



This is a characteristic bird of Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is 

 common everjnvhere where there is brush or trees. Although it 

 always builds on the prairies, yet it mounts a tree or bush to sing, 

 and evidently nests in the vicinity; in traverses of over 1,000 miles 

 by wagon it was constantly found where there was brush. It was 

 quite common on Lees creek and Milk river in southern AJberta. 

 Only one seen at Edmonton, Alta., in 1897, but they were common 

 in the foothills south to Crow Nest pass. Apparently rare in the 

 Rocky mountains, but it is common as far as Morley, in the Bow 

 River pass. None observed at Banff in 1891, and only one speci- 

 men seen at Revelstoke, B.C., in 1890; not uncommon at Kamloops 

 and southward as well as along the Thompson river to Spence Bridge, 

 B.C.; abundant at Agassiz, Chilliwack and Huntingdon, B.C., sum- 

 mer of 1901 ; in 1902 was common at Trail and Cascade, on the 

 International Boundary; common in all the open country from Elko 

 28 



