309 BIRDS—ICTERIDA. 
As its name implies, the Meadow Lark frequents meadows, fallow 
fields, and sparse grassy woodland. It is rather a rare visitor in cities, 
but in the country does not shun the vicinity of dwellings. In the fall 
they gather in flocks, and are more silent and shy. At this time they 
are somewhat esteemed as a game-bird, though few who eat them suspect 
their relationship to the despised Blackbirds, or discover that of all our 
birds they are the most frequently affected by internal parasites. 
The flight of the Meadow Lark is strong and quick, sometimes rather 
heavy and jerky. Its song is loud, clear, and sweet, among the most 
pleasant of bird voices in early spring. Mounted on the stake of a fence, 
top of a stump or tree, he whistles he-ar, cheer, as if accompanying the 
action to the word. The notes are often followed by a rapid, monotonous 
chatter, not at all melodious, and which is often given alone when perch- 
ingor flying. , 
The nest of the Meadow Lark is placed on the ground, by the side of 
a tussock of grass, often. covered with a dome of grass, and sometimes 
approached by a grass-covered way. The eggs are usually five or six, 
white, more or less thickly spotted or dotted with reddish-brown of vary- 
ing shade. They measure about 1.10 by .80. Two broods are often raised 
in a season. | ) 
Sub-famaly ICTERIN A. Orioles. 
Bill slender, acute, as long as the head. Feet adapted for perching. 
Genus ICTERUS. Brisson. 
Tarsus about equal to middle toe; claws short and curved. Outer lateral toe a little 
longer than inner, reaching beyond base of middle claw. 
IcteRus spuRius (L.) Bp. 
Orchard Oriole. 
Icterus spurius, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 162.—AUDUBON, B. Am., iv, 1843, 
50.—RxEaD, Fam. Visitor, iii, 1853, 311; Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., vi. 1853, 395:— 
WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 366; Reprint, 1861, 8; Food of Birds, ete., 
Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 567; Reprint, 1875, 7. LANGDON, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 
10; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 176; Reprint, 10. | 
\ 
Oriolus spurius, LINNZUS, Syst. Nat., 1, 1766, 162. 
Icterus spurius, BONAPARTE, Syn., 1828, 51. 
Male black, lower back, rump, lesser wing-coverts, and all under parts from the 
throat, deep chestnut; a whitish bar across the tips of greater wing-coverts; bill and 
feet blue-black. Tail graduated. Length, about 7; wing, 34; tail, 3. Female smaller, ~ 
plain yellowish-olive above, yellowish below; wings dusky; tips of the coverts, and 
and edges of the inner quills, whitish; known from the female of the cther species by 
its smaller size and very slender pill. Young male at first like the female, afterwards 
showing confused characters of both sexes; in, a particular stage it has a black mask 
and throat. 
