PLATE XXXVIII.
STURNELLA MAGNA-Meadow Lark.
[Eastern Meadowlark]
Meadow Larks remain in Central and Southern Ohio throughout the winter, but are not so abundant at this season as during the summer. In the winter of '79 and '80, which was noted for its severity, the mercury frequently being many degrees below 0° F., I several times flushed Larks from the snow-covered fields, where they had alighted and remained motionless, or were snowed in, as no tracks could be found.
It is probable that these winter residents breed here instead of going farther north as is the custom with some species, the individuals being only apparently resident during the year.

The nest is sometimes built very early in April, and soon after the eggs are deposited; but the usual time for nesting is the last week in April or the first week in May. Very often two broods are hatched.

LOCALITY:
The nest is placed in any open field of grass or small grain. Fields of wheat, timothy, and clover are the most frequently selected Sometimes it is built in the tall grass along a fence, or in an orchard; and sometimes it is in a clump of grass in a piece of very open woods. Occasionally the nest is near a country dwelling, but, as a rule, it is a considerable distance from any house, and is rarely, if ever, built in town.

POSITION
Usually the nest rests in a slight hollow in the ground, found among the growing wheat or grass, with no particular effort at concealment; but sometimes it is well hidden by a tussock, clump of weeds, or a small bush. The bottom of the cavity is generally about on a level with the surrounding surface.

MATERIALS
Grasses and straws are the chief materials of construction. Occasionally pieces of slender weed-stems and strips of weed-bark are used. The grasses are generally long blades of blue-grass or timothy. The structure is well interwoven, and is the same within as without, except that the cavity exposes a little better quality of material than the exterior. The majority of nests are more or less perfectly domed, or, in other words, the entrance is at the side, the cavity being roofed. Sometimes a walk leads through thick vegetation to the doorway. The cavity in the domed or roofed nest is nearly semi-spherical, and measures about three and one-half inches. In open nests its diameter is about the same. The walls vary in thickness from three-fourths to two inches in different nests, and even in different parts of the same nest.

EGGS:
Four or five eggs constitute the complement. The ground-color is white, very faintly tinted at times with greenish-gray, They are marked with blotches, spots, and speckles of light yellowish or pinkish-brown distributed over the entire shell, but most abundant about the base, where sometimes they are confluent, some eggs are marked with small spots or speckles alone. Deep shell marks are fainter and somewhat purplish.

In 1ong diameter they measure from 1.00 to 1.15. And in short-diameter from .76 to .82. The largest specimen in four sets is 1.13 x .8O; the smallest, 1.00 x .78. The ordinary size is about 1.05 x .79.

DIFFERENTIAL POINTS:
The nest and egg, when together, can always be easily recognized by the characters given above.

REMARKS:
The illustration, Plate XXXVIII, represents a nest and four eggs, taken April 6th, 1882. The nest is a good specimen of the domed variety. It was lifted from its position in a clump of grass, and placed upon the ground near by, so that the drawing would show its composition and construction to better advantage. Below, two eggs are figured, representing the usual sizes and markings; as those in the nest are somewhat foreshortened and obscured.

The Meadow Lark is a very shy bird at all times, and particularly during the nesting season. They will rarely go near their nest when conscious they are observed, and they are always on the watch for danger. The best way to find the nest is to walk back and forth slowly through the field in which it is supposed to be, with the expectation of flushing the bird from her eggs. Faithful watching may discern the birds at work building, and an experienced person may detect the nest by sight. The female sits closely, and will not leave her home without she is in imminent peril. When driven from her nest she often feigns lameness in leg and wing, and will flutter about, uttering a low cry in imitation of that of the young in distress, hoping in this way to divert the attention of the intruder, by tempting him to catch a wounded bird, apparently an easy thing to do. Larks are partial to country roads, and, at all seasons, are frequently seen perched upon the fence or feeding in the road-side grass. During the time the female is sitting, the male generally keeps guard from some neighboring bush or fence, occasionally singing a medley or uttering a few cheering notes. If approached be betrays anxiety by an uneasy jerk of his tail, and when he considers the danger past, sometimes he will fly directly to his mate upon the nest, perhaps to tell some trumped up story of his courage. In this way I have several times been led to nests. Only the other day, while driving through the country in a buggy, I passed a Lark, sitting upon the fence, that appeared to me more uneasy than necessary. He did not fly, however, until the buggy was well past, then he went straight to a little knoll in a wheat-field about fifty yards from the road. I stopped the horse, and walked to the spot, when, suddenly, from almost under my feet, two Larks flew up and off, and there, within a foot, was a beautiful open nest and five eggs.