154 THE WILSON BULLETIN— September, 1921 



practically the same surroundings we liad found tliem in before, 

 an open hillside of briars and second growth, ground that had been 

 cleared years before and allowed to grow up again, facing the 

 south. 



We moved on probably two miles in the same range of hill^ 

 and stopped along the road in a cool shady place for lunch. In 

 the trees and bushes all around us were singing Prairie Warblers, 

 dozens of them, on the same kind of a hillside, except probably 

 a few larger trees. Prairie Warblers, instead of being strangers 

 in this part of thei state suddenly became common. But no where 

 else have we ever seen the Prairie Warbler. If any of the readers 

 of this magazine should know of their nesting in Ohio we would 

 be pleased to know of it. 



H. N. Hkndehson. 



Wilmington, Ohio. 



THE MEADOWLARK AS A CONVERSATIONALIST 

 The first thing one usually notices about a. hard is its notes, 

 plumage or a peculiar habit. These things take first place in 

 memory. A bird's song is frequently its most prominent and 

 pleasing characteristic, and were it not for it a gi'eat many birds 

 would never be noticed by the majority of people. 



Much has been written in praise of America's bird singers; 

 some poets and authors praise one bird, while others laud another. 

 In my estimation the Meadowlark and certain members of the 

 Thrasher family rank very near first as singers, but I am unable 

 to say which is really the best. However, I believe the Meadow- 

 lark's song is the most appreciated, for he comes early in the 

 spring", when there are few birds with us, and it is very doubtful 

 whether any of the later birds can equal his song in either 

 quality or variety. 



A study of the Meadowlark"s musical vocabulary is a very 

 fascinating one and does not require a great deal of effort, pro 

 viding. of course, one lives near a region of prairie land within 

 the Meadowlark's range. In the spring months go to a sizable 

 meadow, or better, to a slough where slough grass and other 

 vegetation grow in rank profusion. It is here the Meadowlark 

 is found. If you are a farmer and your work lies nearby, you are 

 indeed fortunate, for several weeks may be profitably spent in 

 such a location before all of the Meadowlarks' songs will be 

 heard. 



The Meadowlark is a great conversationalist. He talks to 

 you from morning till night; it matters not what the weather — 

 storm and sunshine are the same. He sings from tree, ground, 

 or in the air, but a fence post, when available, seems to be his 

 favorite perch. Except in infrequent cases, eveiy Meadowlark 



