Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1793
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, letter to Thomas Hall of Moorfields, London, dated 1793; Selected Papers, 2, part 1: 46.
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) sent a "meadow lark" to Thomas Hall in London, in early 1793, in exchange for European specimens (Miller 1988: 46, Selected Papers, Vol. 2, part 1, Yale University Press).
Peale wrote, in his 31st Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 1241. Meadow Lark. head dark brown, divided in the middle by a pale brown line, and one on each side passing over the eyes, at the corner of each Eye over the bill is a yellow spot; the throat & breast, bright yellow, with a crescent of black. the back, wings & tail striped with grey brown & black. feet long & the nails of the back toes a little crooked. Alauda magna Linn. Le Fer à Cheval ou Merle à collier d'Amerique Buff. Crescent Stare Pennant [1785] p. 330. Large Lark Cat. I. p. 33. It is generally found in our meadows, breeds in the northern & winters in the southern States, feeding chiefly on grass seeds, sits on the fences and small shrubs, singing a musical loud note. are tolerable good eating. Female is less brilliant in colours." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
An undated list of 21 bird specimens in Charles Willson Peale's (1741-1827) handwriting includes one "Meadow Lark" (American Philosophical Society Library, Mss.B.P31).
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Meadow Lark / Alauda magna" in American Ornithology vol. 3 (Pl. 19), where "Peale's Museum, No. 5212" was cited (Wilson 1811: 20). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/26/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/8/mode/1up (plate)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Eastern Meadowlark
Current Scientific Name
Icteridae | Sturnella magna
