234 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



southern counties is almost always met with in small numbers throughout 

 the winter. On the Montezuma marshes and other large swamps good 

 sized flocks are also observed in winter when grass seed is abundant. The 

 majority of individuals, however, are migratory. These arrive from the 

 south from the 2d to the 20th of March, sometimes as late as the 30th, 

 and disappear in the fall between the. 1st and the 30th of November. 



The Meadowlark prefers open grass country, prairies, wide meadows 

 and pasture lands being his favorite haunts. He secures all his food upon 

 the ground, and walks, like all the ground-feeding members of his family, 

 preferring weed seeds and some waste grain in the fall and winter, but 

 in the spring, summer and early fall lives mostly on grasshoppers, crickets, 

 larvae of insects which are found in the meadows, and ground-feeding 

 beetles. He sometimes does harm by destroying tiger beetles and black 

 ground beetles which are predaceous in habit, but secures much less of 

 these on account of their activity than of the species whose larvae feed 

 upon the vegetation of the meadows. In fact, he spends most of his time 

 upon the ground but is frequently seen perching on tree tops, fence posts 

 and other elevated stations, apparently to watch the locality for members 

 of his own company or to utter his clear call note. The Meadowlark's 

 flight is strong and well-sustained. When under way it usually consists 

 of several rapid wing strokes alternating with short periods of sailing. 

 He rises with a buzzing of the wings which reminds one somewhat of 

 a Quail's flight and has given him in many localities the name of " Marsh 

 quail." He was formerly hunted for game throughout most of the north 

 central states, but his flesh is comparatively unpalatable and his beauty, 

 as well as beneficial habits, should place him in the list of song and insec- 

 tivorous birds rather than among the game birds. The clear, plaintive 

 whistle of the Meadowlark which is heard from the time he arrives in 

 spring till almost the end of the season has been variously described by 

 different authors. Bendire says it is often interpreted " laze-kill-dec." 

 I have frequently heard it interpreted " spring-most-here." At least it 

 consists of about three syllables, a high and plaintive whistle. Beside 

 this note he has a harsh guttural chatter uttered when flying from the 



