58 THE WILSON QUARTERLY. 



the habits of the larks during this period of incubation, I 

 have arrived at the conclusion that they are more than or- 

 dinarily intelligent. 



Wheii you approach a nest the male utters his usual call 

 from his watch-tower, giving a peculiar inflection to the 

 last note. He is nowhere near the nest, by the way, and 

 always happens to be in the same direction from the nest 

 that you are. If you are searching for the nest you must 

 now look sharp. As soon as the female hears that note she 

 steps fvom the nest and walks quietly away, feeding as 

 she goes. You may be on the opposite side hill from the 

 nest when she leaves it ; in which case you won't be very 

 likely to find it. But if your eyes are good you may be a- 

 ble to catch sight of the female as she feeds. If you do, sit 

 down and watch her, taking care to remain perfectly mo- 

 tionless. Ifyou wait long enough, and the bird isn't too 

 shy, you may be able to see her return to her nest. 



If you should be so fortunate as to flush the bird fi'om 

 the nest, unless you were familiar with the habits of the 

 birds, you would not know it. Casual observers of birds 

 speak in glowing phrases of the art and maternal affection 

 exhibited by. the mother bird who leaves the nest fluttering: 

 and crying as though injured, trying thus to lead you a 

 way from her nest. But look at this lark. As she sudden- 

 ly finds you almost upon her she quietly steps from her 

 nest, runs a little way, feeds unconcernedly, and finally 

 flits away easily and calmly as you approach. Which iS' 

 the more commendable art ? 



After careful study of a large number of nests, I found 

 that the average period of incubation of our form of the 

 Horned Lark is thirteen days. The conditions may be 

 such that the bird may sit a day or two more or less. I 

 doubt if any eggs are hatched in less than twelve days, and 

 very few in less than thirteen. 



The newly hatched young, which break the shell and 

 come forth in exactly the same order that the eggs were 

 laid, are covered with dirty gray down. This thickens a& 

 the days pass, and in about ten days the feathers have 



