168 
the first was seen March 20; at Argusville, Dak., March 27; at Oak 
Point, Manitoba, May 17. 
Dr. Agersborg states that the western Meadowlark breeds abun- 
dantly in southeastern Dakota, to the exclusion of the eastern. 
In the spring of 1885 no distinction was made in the records of ob- 
servers between the eastern and western Meadowlarks, and it was 
thought that they could not be separated until a decided difference was 
discovered in the times of their migration. The general rule holds 
good for fully nine-tenths of the migratory birds of the district, that 
those which pass over the Plains migrate several days or even weeks 
later than their fellows which are traveling nearer the Mississippi River. 
Hence, when we find that the Meadowlarks of the Plains move quite 
uniformly a week or more in advance of their eastern brethren, it may 
be safely concluded that the difference in time is caused by a difference 
in the species. These western birds were quite plentiful at Ellsworth, 
Kans., during the month of February, and on the 4th of March appeared 
at Unadilla and Linwood, Nebr., being common at Linwood by March 
12. They reached Grand View, Dak., March 21; Sioux City, Iowa, 
March 22; Huron, Dak., and Emmetsburgh, Iowa, March 25; Herom 
Lake, Minn., March 26; Moorhead, Minn., March 31, where they were 
heard and seen over a sheet of snow which had fallen the day before. 
At Menoken, Dak., the first was seen April 4; at Larimore, Dak., April 
5; at Ossowo, Manitoba, April 6; and at Oak Point, Manitoba, April 9. 
503. Icterus audubonii Giraud. [266.] Audubon’s Oriole. 
The home of Audubon’s Oriole is from central Mexico north to the 
Lower Rio Grande Valley, in Texas, where it is a tolerably common resi- 
dent. It is the only Orioie which spends the winter within the United 
States. 
505. Icterus cucullatus Swains. [269.] Hooded Oriole. 
The Hooded Oriole inhabits eastern Mexico, coming north to the 
Lower Rio Grande, in Texas, where it is a common summer resident, 
and the most abundant of the four Orioles that breed there. 
506. Icterus spurius (Linn.). [270.] Orchard Oriole. 
-The Orchard Oriole is a common summer resident in most parts of” 
the Mississippi Valley, breeding from southern Texas to central. Minne- 
sota and Dakota. It is a common breeder at Brown’s Valley, on the 
boundary between Dakota and Minnesota (Roberts & Benner, Bull. 
Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1880, p. 15); and Mr. J. A. Allen found a few 
as far west as Heart River, Dak., west of the Missouri (Proc. Bost.. 
Soe. Nat. Hist., Vol. XVII, Oct., 1874). It winters south of the United 
States, and crosses our border about the last of March. Its migration. 
is steady and uniform. Its advance northward occurs at the sime time. 
on both sides of the Mississippi, and even on the Plains. Moreover, it. 
is so conspicuous a bird that it is easily observed. In the spring of 1884: 
