BLACKBIRD, ORIOLE, AND MEADOWLARK FAMILY. 65 
proclivity for oats, and if abundant would undoubtedly plove a 
menace to'the crop. 
WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 
(Sturneila neglecta.) 
Throughout California wherever grassy uplands, fields, and 
meadows occur, there will be seen the western meadowlark. Low, 
rich meadows, verging to marsh, with water near by, form ideal condi- 
tions for this bird. Nor does it disdain fertile hillsides when not too 
high, and when covered by a thick coat of herbage. Only pro- 
fessional ornithologists take note of the plumage differences between 
the eastern and western species of the meadowlark, but the difference 
in song is evident to the dullest ear. Owing to the snow, meadowlarks 
in the northern and eastern parts of the United States must migrate 
in winter far enough south to find open ground, but in California 
valleys no such necessity exists; so the bird remains on the same 
range the year round, and carries on its good work of destroying 
insects and weeds. ; 
A few complaints have been made that meadowlarks in California. 
eat the seeds of forage plants, notably clover, to an injurious extent. 
As most of the forage plants, including the introduced grasses of the 
Pacific coast lowlands, are annuals, the destruction of their seed 
would lessen the next season’s feed and be a damage. Probably, 
however, such harm is done only under exceptional circumstances, 
for the stomachs show only a very small percentage of seed of forage 
plants and no clover seed. Another report is that the meadowlark 
does considerable damage to peas. The earliest fields are most 
visited by the birds, and small patches are sometimes almost com- 
pletely destroyed. The later crops are not so badly damaged, and 
in extensive areas the loss is hardly noticeable. All the reports of 
damage to peas thus far received are from southern California, and 
very likely the explanation lies in some peculiar local conditions. The 
birds evidently lose their taste for this kind of food before the season 
is over, and probably find something more palatable which is wanting 
at first. 
In some parts of the San Joaquin Valley the meadowlark has been 
accused, and probably with good reason, of pulling up sprouting grain 
inearly spring. It is stated that the bird bores down beside the new 
plant and draws out the kernel. In many cases the amount of grain 
thus destroyed is said to be large. In one instance it was stated that 
the crop over a limited area was reduced 50 percent. The evidence, 
however, is conflicting, as some grain growers in the same localities 
are not aware of any loss. It thus seems probable that the damage 
to grain by the meadowlark is limited in extent and very local. 
38301—Bull. 34—10-—5 
