BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES 



(501) Sturnella magna magna 



(Linn.) (Lat., a starling; large). 



MEADOWLARK; MARSH 

 QUAIL. Sexes similar but the 9 

 duller colored than the cf. Yellow 

 of throat sharply defined against 

 the white on the sides of the head. 

 L., 10.50; Ex., 17.00; W., 4.50; T., 

 3.50; Tar., 1.40; B., 1.35. 



Range — Breeds from N. B., Ont., 

 and Minn, south to N. Car. and 111., 

 whence it is replaced by the SOUTH- 

 ERN MEADOWLARK (S. m., ar- 

 gutula), slightly smaller and brighter. 



(SOI.l) Sturnella neglecta 



Audubon (Lat., overlooked). 



WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 

 Yellow of throat encroaches on sides 

 of head. 



Range — Breeds from Man. and 

 -•--- *' B. C. south to Tex. and Cal. 



wings to show off the brilliant markings, as they utter their 

 musical song — a liquid, "conk-a-ree. " They use as alarm 

 notes an energetic "tchack" and a rather irritating, grating 

 " tzee-e-e-er. " 



Their nests are always built near water, often in bushes 

 or rushes directly over it; again, they may be placed in tufts 

 of grass on the ground in marshes or about the edges. The 

 nests are woven of marsh grasses and bark, and lined with 

 finer grasses; they are quite deeply cupped, and may be 

 suspended by the rim or saddled in forks. When any one 

 approaches the vicinity of their nests the whole colony 

 becomes greatly alarmed and keeps up a deafening din until 

 the person has departed. At all seasons they devour a 

 great many insects, but during summer a great many 

 more, for their young are fed almost exclusively upon this 

 diet. 



MEADOWLARKS are dwellers in our meadows, fields, 

 and pastures, and their clearly whistled songs can be heard 

 from early spring tintil late fall. In the Northern States 



2S2 



