EASTERN MEADOWLARK 61 



away. Finally, the eggs hatched, and the young birds were brought 

 up, so to speak, "under fire." 



G. B. Saunders (MS., see p. 56) provides the following notes on 

 nest building: At Ithaca, N. Y., the meadowlark begins nesting in late 

 April or early Maj T . The time required for building the nest varies 

 from 3 to 18 days. One pair began carrying nesting material on April 



20 and completed the nest on May 8, another began building on April 



21 and finished on May 8. Still another began carrying grass on June 3 

 and finished her nest and laid her first egg on June 6. In every case 

 except the last one mentioned, several nests were started and worked 

 upon. Usually the first beakfulls of nesting materials are deposited 

 at different places and at first there seems to be no concentration on 

 any particular location. During these first days copulation with the 

 male takes place. When the female is responsive to the advances of 

 the male she crouches close to the ground, shortens her neck, and points 

 her bill upward at an angle. She flutters and flirts her wings and lifts 

 and spreads her tail. The male displays a few feet distant, and the 

 copulatory act is finally achieved with no sounds being uttered by 

 either bird. 



Trips with nesting material are most frequent early and late in the 

 day, but may sometimes continue during midday as well. The 

 details of nest building are presented in the following typical case. 

 On May 12, 1931, a nest which Saunders had under observation was 

 scarcely begun, but both cup and roof had been started. A natural 

 depression 2 inches deep had been slightly modified by the female, 

 who used her bill for the retouching. Into this cavity a thin layer of 

 last year's gross blades had been laid. Much of the tuft of grass 

 surrounding the cup had been arched over it and woven together, 

 being secured by a few long dry grass stems woven among the growing 

 blades. In half a morning's work she had both the cup and roof well 

 started. The male gave no assistance in the enterprise and offered 

 none later. 



On May 13 as well as on the two following days, the female made 

 regular trips with material every 5 to 10 minutes. She usually 

 remained at the nest from 35 seconds to 2 minutes placing the material 

 that she had brought. On this day the nest was half completed; the 

 lining of the bowl was much deeper but was still flimsy. On May 15 

 the nest was complete except for occasional additions of material. 

 The first egg was laid on May 17. Occasionally the building continues 

 for several days after egg laying is begun. 



Saunders' observation of the nest-building process is thus sum- 

 marized: 



Following the choice of a nesting site, the customary first step is to prepare the 

 earthen foundation for its cup of withered grass. There may be a natural depres- 



