340 MISSOURI MEADOW-LARK. 



bird called the Old Field Lark, with a yellow breast and a black spot on the 

 croup. * * * * The beak, too, is somewhat larger and more curved, 

 and the notes differ considerably." The expedition was, at the period men- 

 tioned, in the neighbourhood of the great Falls of the Missouri. 



We found this species quite abundant on our voyage up the Missouri, 

 above Fort Croghan, and its curious notes were first noticed by Mr. J. G. 

 Bell, without which in all probability it would have been mistaken for our 

 common species (Sturnella Ludoviciana). When I first saw them, they 

 were among a number of Yellow-headed Troupials, and their notes so much 

 resembled the cries of these birds, that I took them for the notes of the 

 Troupial, and paid no farther attention to them, until I found some of them 

 by themselves, when I was struck with the difference actually existing 

 between the two nearly allied species. 



In their flight, manners on the ground, and general habits, nothing dif- 

 ferent from S. Ludoviciana could be observed; but on comparing the 

 Missouri Meadow Lark with specimens of S. Ludoviciana, procured near 

 New York, the differences are quite sufficient to warrant me to describe the 

 former as a new and hitherto undescribed species. The bill of the Missouri 

 Meadow Lark is more curved, and considerably narrower, than in the com- 

 mon species, indeed it is scarcely more than one half the breadth of the 

 bill of the latter. The Missouri Lark is also considerably smaller; but the 

 greatest difference is in the form of the tail, which in this species is nearly 

 square, and consequently has the feathers nearly equal, whilst in the common 

 one, the tail is rounded, and the two lateral feathers are nearly three quarters 

 of an inch shorter than the middle ones; besides which, the central tail- 

 feathers of the present bird are narrowly barred, and not scalloped on their 

 margins as in Sturnella Ludoviciana. The nest is not covered over, and 

 the eggs are considerably smaller, and differently marked. This species is 

 very shy, but abundant on all the prairies; its flesh resembles that of the 

 common bird, and is indifferent eating. 



Missouri Meadow-Lark, Sturnella neglecta, Aud. 



10, 16. 



Upper Missouri. Abundant. 



Adult Male. 



The male measures 10 inches from the point of the bill to the end of the 

 tail, to end of claws 111; alar extent 16; wing from flexure 4^; tail 3. 

 Third quill longest. Bill along the ridge 1 and nearly f, along the edge If; 

 tarsus 1-|; middle toe 1, its claw •§; hind toe -§, its claw ^. 



The eggs, which are usually four or five in number, measure 1^ inches in 



