86 THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



In the beautiful days of October the male often indulges 

 in his delicious warble. At this time the moult has some- 

 what changed his appearance. The brown tips and mark- 

 ings of the black feathers above, the more perfect fringes 

 of very light brown, which adorn all the dark plumage, as 

 well as the various light markings about the head, are all of 

 a warmer, redder tint, while the bright-yellow underneath, 

 and especially the jet-black and somewhat heart-shaped 

 collar on the breast, are so deeply fringed with reddish as 

 to render them somewhat obscure. In plumage, voice and 

 nidification, this bird resembles the Lark, but in structure, 

 it is more properly an American Starling. On the prairies 

 and plains of the far west there is a lighter-colored variety, 

 said to differ in song; while in South America, there is a 

 beautiful Red-breasted Lark, similar to ours in form, size, 

 and marking. 



The Meadow Lark's long-pointed bill and enormous legs 

 and feet may be regarded as indicative of its ground-life 

 and insect diet. Though seeming to be a rather awkwardly- 

 shaped bird when examined in the hand, it often takes an 

 attitude when alighting, especially if on a rock, which is 

 exceedingly graceful. 



Breeding in Texas and Florida northward as far as the 

 Columbia and the Saskatchawan rivers, Mr. Everett Smith 

 reports it as "common in western Maine;" and adds, "not 

 common east of the Kennebeck Valley, and almost unknown 

 east of the Penobscot Valley. Much less abundant in the 

 western part of the State now than twenty years ago," Mr. 

 Chamberlain notes it as " a rare summer resident " in New 

 Brunswick. 



THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. , 



I pass on to the woods and meet a striking object but 

 occasionally seen in our winter landscape, the Red-headed 



