494 



CRESCENT STARLING, 



This bird, which appears specifically distinct 

 from S. ludovicianus, is in length eleven inches: 

 its beak is dusky : the top of its head and neck 

 are brown, with their sides pale grey ; the crown 

 is marked with a stripe of the latter colour ; be- 

 tween the beak and eye is a yellowish spot, and 

 above each eye, pointing backwards, is a stripe of 

 the same: the upper parts of its plumage are 

 brown, varied with red and dusky: the greater 

 quills are plain brown, and the lesser ones are 

 spotted with rufous, having the ground colour 

 brown : all the under parts of the plumage are 

 yellow, a crescent-shaped mark on the breast ex- 

 cepted, which is deep black : the tail is brown, 

 sprinkled with rufous on the outer margins; its 

 under coverts are grey : legs and claws brown : 

 the young are nearly destitute of the crescent on 

 the breast. 



Common in North America, where it is known 

 by the name of the Meadow Lark, as it principally 

 affects meadows, and rarely perches on trees: 

 it is migratory and gregarious : its legs are pure 

 white. 



