88 
THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN 
situated near a lake or marsh. l ; rom the time the red-wing 
begins to flock until it leaves for the south, it invariably roosts 
in the reedy marshes, toward which localities it returns in 
great numbers about sunset. Albinistic specimens are com- 
mon and we have seen two or three specimens with a pink- 
crescent on the breast, as well as an adult male with no red on 
wings. It is very variable in size, and a large series of fall 
migrants, especially, would probably produce specimens of 
Agelaius p. fort is Ridgw., the thick-billed red-wing. It has 
not appreciably decreased in numbers during the past forty 
years. 
Stnrnella magna (Linn. J. ME AD OWL ARK. 
An abundant summer resident, it is occasionally found at 
any time of the year, even in the severest of winter weather. 
Xot so plenty in southern AYisconsin as thirty-five years ago. 
Many are shot by would-be sportsmen, and suitable nesting 
sites are fewer and restricted in size. For nesting grounds the 
birds prefer the virgin sod to cultivated fields. In Dunn 
County, Mr. J. X. Clark tells us, it appears to be giving way in 
numbers to the western form, mglecta, which is slowly 
increasing in that region. 
Sturnella neftlecta And. WESTERN VIEADOWLARK. 
In many parts of the state the western meadowlark breeds 
more or less commonly. Dr. Hoy had a specimen, identified 
by Baird, which he captured at Racine as late as December 24. 
lie also mentions its occurrence on the lake shore at other 
times in early winter. Air. F. H. King found it breeding in 
St. Croix County (1). In Dunn County it is a regular summer 
resident and breeds. As stated under the preceding it is slowly 
increasing in numbers there. Air. H. Russel, and Drs. Cope- 
land and Ogden have found it in Milwaukee County. It is 
found regularly in Rock, Jefferson and Dane counties, but 
onlv (?) in very late fall, November and even December, not 
having as yet been noted in spring or summer. 
Icterns spurins (Linn.). ORC HARD ORIOLE. 
In the southern part of the state this oriole is a regular, and 
not a rare summer resident, more often nesting in and on the 
edges of towns, in quiet places, than in the country. Air. Clark- 
rinds it a common breeding bird in Dunn County, and writes 
1. Econ. Rel. Wis. Birds, Geol. of Wis.. 1S83. 
