750 Rural School Leaflet. 



SPECIAL STUDY 

 Mcadozv Lark 



Description. — Length lO^ inches, a little larger than a robin, black, 

 brown and buff on the upper parts ; yellow beneath ; a black crescent on 

 the breast ; sides streaked with black ; outer tail-feathers white. 



Observations. — i. Meadow larks often try to escape observation by 

 hiding in the grasses. The colors of the back protect them best in this 

 position. 



2. Note how rapidly they fly. Observe the white feathers on either 

 side of the tail. 



3. The song is flute-like, clear, and ringing. 



Coivhirds 



Description. — Nearly 8 inches long. The head and neck of the male 

 are dark coffee brown, the rest of the plumage is a glossy greenish-black. 

 The female is a brownish-gray with whitish throat. 



Observations. — i. Cowbirds appear singly or in small bands. They 

 are often seen feeding near cattle. 



2. The females lay eggs in the nests of other birds. I have found a 

 cowbird's egg in the nest of a red-eyed vireo. Since vireos are smaller 

 than cowbirds, their young often die of starvation, because the young 

 cowbird demands so much food. Vireos are more valuable than cow- 

 birds and it is a pity that they should be imposed upon. 



3. The eggs of the cowbird are white, speckled with cinnamon brown 

 or umber. 



Bluebird 



We hope that boys and girls have made boxes for the birds, and 

 that bluebirds will nest in them, since they are very interesting to watch. 

 It has been said that a box for bluebirds should not have any threshold 

 or place to alight. Bluebirds do not need it, and sparrows do not care 

 for a place without a threshold. If this is the case, the absence of a 

 threshold might prevent sparrows from disturbing the bluebirds. It 

 may be well to experiment with this and find out whether it is true. 



Barbed wire placed around trees and ])osts will prevent cats from 

 reaching the nests of the birds. It is very important that all young per- 

 sons should realize how very destructive cats are to the birds. During 

 the nesting season they should be ])revente(l from roaming about, ])ar- 

 ticularlv at night. In one garden 1 have known two or three entire bird 

 families, mother and young, destroyed in a nigbt by a prowling cat. 



