64 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



pasture in the rear of the Garden is a favorite retreat for 

 large troops of migrating Meadowlarks, and tiieir cheery song 

 and low chatter may be heard before the last snow of winter 

 has disappeared as well as on cold gloomy days before their 

 departure in November and after all other summer birds are 

 gone. On farm land protected from the pot-hunter some 

 Meadowlarks brave the rigors of our winters, but the great 

 mass goes to the Gulf states, where they are found not only 

 on cultivated land, but also in the open pine woods, keeping 

 company with the Bobwhites, Bluebirds, and others usually 

 associated with cultivated land only. 



RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. Agelaius phoeniceus. 



The male Red-winged Blackbird with its bright red epau- 

 lets upon a deep black dress is an ornament to every surround- 

 ing, and we are fortunate in having a few pairs of them breed- 

 ing in the Garden. They make their nests always near water, 

 preferably on swampy ground, and are therefore often called 

 Swamp Blackbirds. There is not much ground of a swampy 

 nature in the Garden, but a pond in the arboretum answers 

 the purpose, and it is there that the "concuree" of the just re- 

 turned old Mr. Redwing greets us about the middle of March. 

 During the first few weeks his voice may be heard only for a 

 short time in the morning, as he comes only to tell us that he 

 intends to be back on his old breeding ground for another 

 season. His social nature calls him back to his comrades in 

 the bottomland to feed and roost, and during wintry spells 

 he may not show up for several days; but with the return of 

 pleasant weather he will make up for lost time and sing his 

 concuree with vim from morning till night. lie may now be 

 joined by a few other males, also promising to stay, but his 

 mate does not join him until the swamp vegetation has made 

 such progress that there is a safe prospect of enough cattail 

 and similar plants wherein to hide her nest, Male Redwings 

 are ardent lovers, and it is due to the prudence of the female 

 that broods are not attempted before the season is so far ad- 

 vanced that she can hope for success in the rearing of her only 

 brood of three or four youngsters. During the mating season, 



