SUMMER BIRDS OF SHAW's GARDEN. 53 



companies keep together, roaming through the country, court- 

 ing and contributing to the amusement of Nature lovers by 

 their grotesque attitudes and queer gestures as well as by 

 their strange utterances. In May and June, while still con- 

 spicuous roamers and frequenters of the same places as before^ 

 they are also met with singly or in twos, a male accompany- 

 ing a female, moving stealthily through the lower branches 

 of trees or through underbrush in search of a depository for 

 their eggs. Later in summer young Cowbirds are sometimes 

 seen being fed by other birds, but the old Cowbirds do not 

 care what becomes of their eggs after they arc trusted to the 

 care of some warbler or other songster. Having finished 

 their task of oviposition the old Cowbirds leave the grounds 

 entirely and withdraw to farmland, over which they rove in 

 flocks in search of food, being joined by the young ones when 

 able to fly and to take care of themselves. These flocks retire 

 southward in October, but small parties and single individuals 

 remain with other Blackbirds into and sometimes through 

 winter. 



MEADOWLARK. Stumella magna. 



One of the most valuable constituents of the avifauna of 

 the Garden is the handsome, cheerful Meadowlark, several of 

 which persevered on the meadow of the Synopsis in spite of 

 repeated grass cuttings and the attendant destruction of their 

 nests. Though feeding entirely on the ground where they 

 are easily overlooked, they have the praiseworthy habit of 

 flying up to some eminence, sometimes to the highest tree 

 top, to give vent to their somewhat harsh but not unmusical 

 song. Besides this song of the male, both sexes have a loud 

 chatter, apparently an expression of exuberant joy, fre- 

 quently given, especially in the Garden, where they enjoy a 

 protection which they do not find everywhere, as the poor 

 bird is still regarded as a game bird in spite of Audubon soci- 

 eties and prohibiting laws. Doing no harm in any way and 

 living almost entirely on insects, and being with us from Feb- 

 ruary till November, the farmers and horticulturists ought. 

 to do all they can to preserve the bird as one of their best 

 allies in the war against insect pests. In spring and fall the: 



