154 Bird- Lore 



ous. The nest and four eggs mentioned above were plowed under 

 to facilitate corn planting, while innumerable nests are destroyed 

 earlier in the season, when the farmers ' break sod. ' The first nests 

 in March and April are often subject to great changes of temperature. 

 Although they may be built in warm, sunny weather, a sudden cold 

 wave often covers them with snow and imbeds them in ice. 



While waiting for the Lark to become accustomed to the cam- 

 era, I had an excellent opportunity of observing its song flight. 

 Lying there on my back, I enjoyed a splendid exhibition of one of 

 this bird's peculiar traits. From a point a hundred yards from 

 where I lay a happy songster suddenly arose, flying upward at an 

 angle of 45 degrees, not continuously, but in short stretches. When 

 at a great elevation he began to sing, taking short, quick wing 

 strokes, and singing while he sailed. In this way a circle 300 yards 

 in diameter was crossed and recrossed until fully five minutes had 

 passed, when, suddenly closing his wings, he shot downward like 

 a bullet, slowly catching himself on nearing the ground and curving 

 outward to his starting point. Several similar exhibitions were 

 carried on in exactly the same manner, the time not varying by half 

 a minute. Though the song lacks many of the fine qualities of 

 other birds, it clearly expresses the joy and happiness of the 

 singer. With thrills of pleasure we hear it echo over the hills, and 

 bless the little creature, hoping that in the ' struggle for existence ' 

 he may thrive and wax exceeding strong. 



SCREECH OWL 

 Photographed from life by A. L. Princehorn 



