26 



THE OOLOGIST 



species, however, about one-fourth smaller 

 than average specimens, one of a set of 

 four, of which the remaining ones were nor- 

 mal. We have never found the female 

 upon the nest, and ratlier suspect she flies 

 oft' at the least indication of danger ; but 

 have frequently noticed the male, stolidly 

 perched on the top of an adjacent tree. 



We have in course of preparation two 

 excellent engravings, to illustrate our se- 

 ries of papers on the nests of some North 

 American birds, and to appear in our No- 

 vember and January numbers, respective- 

 ly. Also a full-page, original engraving 

 of Archihuteo lagopus var. sandi-johannis, 

 to be accompanied with an article by a 

 well known writer. We hope young oolo- 

 gists will appreciate the value of these con- 

 tributions to bird literature, and will help 

 us to add even more acceptible features 

 from time to time. The oological depart- 

 ment of this journal would be more com- 

 plete and important if our young readers 

 would aid us in the proper direction. We 

 would like especially to hear from our Cal- 

 ifornia and northwestern friends. 



Approach to the Nest of the 

 Meadow Lark. 



TX/'HATEVER allowance may be made 

 ^ for the.general appearance of the Mead- 

 ow Lark's nest and its surroundings, ac- 

 cording to geographical position or the for- 

 mer mode of nesting, naturalists do not al- 

 ways liud the nests and their approaches 

 alike ; and there are few who know the 

 facts better than country boys and farm 

 hands, though, unfortu'.iately, habit and 

 human nature are such a power in magni- 

 fying and distorting their verbal accounts, 

 that one can seldom look in that quarter 

 for unpainted information. However, there 

 seems to be a general atlirmation tliat when 

 the grass is long enough, a sort of tunnel of 

 more or less length is constructed — if that 

 term may be used — to the nest. This may 



be safely accounted one reason why it is 

 so difticult to tind a Meadow Lark's nest. 

 In a low, rather boggy pasture, a nest was 

 found, alter considerable search, in the side 

 of a little knoll, completely covered over 

 and approached through a crooked tunnel 

 under the grass, more than two feet long. 

 The materials of this nest were placed par- 

 tially in the little hollow that appeared to 

 have been scratched in the side of the knoll. 



Another nest, found in a level meadow, 

 was situated at the end of an approach of 

 over a foot in length through the long grass. 

 This example was also hidden from sight, 

 and evaded close scrutiny until the opening 

 of the tunnel was discovered. In several 

 other ctises there was a well defined ap- 

 proach to the nest, made in most instances 

 by the beating or trampling down of the 

 grass by the bird ; although, in nearly all 

 cases, the grasses came or were brought to- 

 gether over the tunnel so as to form a sort 

 of roof. Whether or not there is a well 

 defined entrance through the grass to the 

 nest, this latter is well concealed by grass 

 tops, ingeniously and sometimes quite 

 strongly mingled and matted together. It 

 has been noticed that when the nest is built 

 on sloping ground, the entrance is from the 

 lower side. 



The materials of the nest consist almost 

 entirely of dry grasses and straws, matted 

 together and placed very snugly to the 

 ground. Frequently, if not commonly, the 

 materials of the nest are worked about and 

 among the grasses close to it, apparently 

 with much labor. 



Many collectors report the season's re- 

 sults fairly satisfactory, while others, usu- 

 ally very successful, complain of the pauci- 

 ty of desirable nests. From inquiry, we 

 infer that most of those who have not been 

 successful have not given the usual amount 

 of time to their investigations ; and a sea- 

 son cannot be said to be "poor" unless 

 compared with another on an equal basis. 

 With some collectors all seasons are equal- 

 ly productive. 



