igoi] Saunders— New Song for a Common Bird. 225 



an almost unknown chapter of this common bird's hfe I quote his 

 article at length : " In 1895, the writer, chancing to be in close 

 proximity to a field, observed a bird perched in a tree-top. Its 

 position and actions proclaimed it a Meadowlark at the first glance. 

 As I approached, it took wing and flew swiftly upward, its wings 

 vibrating rapidly as the bird ascended spirally into the air, uttering 

 a hushed but penetrating, chattering noise resembling somewhat 

 the notes of the Chcetura pelagica. Suddenly these chattering 

 noises are interrupted by loud ' chirps' or ' cheeps' like those of 

 a Canary uttered in quick succession. The bird flew in almost a 

 circle, slowly descending to the ground again It seemed to have 

 great power of ventriloquism (or else the damp air caused a mis- 

 leading influence in determining its position by hearing), for the 

 notes appeared to come out of the tree — near which I stood — but 

 every twig was visible and no bird was to be seen : and, as I had 

 lost sight of it in its flight, I knew not where it could be. The 

 notes grew louder and louder. I was positive the bird was in the 

 tree. But it was not, for I was still gazing upward, above and 

 partially through it. I was puzzled. The bird was certainly 

 coming nearer, for the notes continued to grow louder, until I 

 almost imagined it would end by lighting on my head. But the 

 misleading notes did not end here. The noise ceased for a 

 moment, then a sharp and harsh grating ' cheep ' came from a 

 point in the field above, 80 or 100 feet distant. I was vexed the 

 first time this occurred, but realized that either the bird was 

 deceiving me or the air had a hand in the deception. The loud, 

 hoarse call was repeated at intervals, and I could easily determine 

 its position. A few moments later it again took wing, and the 

 chattering began, broken in upon occasionally by the chirping, 

 until it again seemed almost upon me. Then a repetition of the 

 intervals of silence and once more the tell-tale ' cheep' from the 

 field. On one occasion while gazing up, the bird flew directly 

 over my head only about thirty feet above ; his voice had so be- 

 wildered me that I could not ascertain his whereabouts until 1 saw 

 him sail smoothly over. Whether the dampness, the clear moist 

 air, or the bird itself caused this ventriloquial effect I do not know, 

 but I rather favour the latter supposition." 



