LIST AND DESCRIPTION 119 



like the Meadowlark. Breast yellow with black throat patch, 

 the upper throat being white. One cannot ride far into the 

 country without seeing him on fence or weed. He is always 

 singing, but he can't sing. With strenuous repetition however, 

 he does say, "dick dick-che, che, che che, e e e." A summer 

 resident in the southern part of the State. Nests on the ground 

 or in low bushes. 



605. Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys.) 



This splendid summer resident is found over the State but 

 is most abundant west of the Missouri River. It is distinctly a 

 bird of the Plains. The male is black with large white wing 

 patches. The female is Sparrow-like in plumage, but with white 

 tipped tail, and buff wing bars. 



Nests on the ground near a sagebush or clump of weeds. 

 As the male rises on wing he begins his song, which continues 

 almost until he alights, and is uttered in several distinct phrases. 

 Each song-phrase seems to coincide with a distinct flight-phase 

 or direction. The Lark Bunting is often confused with the 

 Bobolink. 



FAMILY TANGARID.E. TANAGERS 



The Tanagers are not plentiful in South Dakota, but their 

 gleaming colors and rather shy ways make them subjects of 

 great interest. One belongs to the eastern part of the State and 

 the other to the Black Hills region. They are summer residents. 



607. Western TanaGER (Piranga ludoviciana.) 



But for the reddish wash on head and neck, the inexpe- 

 rienced observer, upon seeing this bird, would exclaim, "What a 

 large Goldfinch!" It is about the size of an Oriole. The gen- 

 eral color is yellow. Head and neck are washed with red, while 

 wings, shoulders across the back, and tail are black. This ex- 

 quisite bird is found from the Pacific to the Plains; the Black 

 Hills and the wooded areas of Washabaugh County are the 

 eastern limit of its range. 



608. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga erythromelas.) 



The male is like a flaming torch among the trees. Every 

 feather on its body proper is brilliant scarlet while every feather 



