Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME VII.
Bird Call
Family
Genus
MISSOURI MEADOW-LARK.
[Western Meadowlark.]
(State Bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming)
STURNELLA NEGLECTA, Aud.
[Sturnella neglecta.]
PLATE CCCCLXXXIX.--MALE.
Although the existence of this species was known to the celebrated
explorers of the west, LEWIS and CLARK, during their memorable journey across
the Rocky Mountains and to the Pacific; no one has since taken the least notice
of it.
These travellers mention it at page 236 of the first volume, edited by
PAUL ALLEN, Esq., and revised by ARCHIBALD M'VICAR. They say, on the 21st June,
1805, "There is also a species of Lark, much resembling the 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 mentioned, 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 fight, manners on the ground, and general habits, nothing
different 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 common species, indeed it in
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 in 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 11 1/4; alar extent 16; wing from flexure 4 7/8; tail 3.
Third quill longest. Bill along the ridge 1 and nearly 3/8, along the edge
1 3/8; tarsus 1 5/8; middle toe 1, its claw 3/8; hind toe 5/8, its claw 1/2.
The eggs, which are usually four or five in number, measure 1 1/8 inches in
length, by 3/4 in breadth, pure white ground. The spots are more bold, larger,
and of a brighter reddish colour than those of S. Ludoviciana, and are diffused
over the whole surface, instead of being crowded toward the larger end, as is
the case in the common species. The irides are brownish, and the hairs on the
upper eye-lid longer and more numerous. The general colours and markings are
much the same in both species, but much paler in the present one.