A JOLLY FIELD BIRD. 



The American meadow lark is a most 

 charming bird, one whose acquaintance it is 

 well worth your while to cultivate. You can 

 not mistake him for any other bird. Watch 

 him as he stands yonder in the short grass of 

 the meadow or clover field, or upon a stump 

 or a fence post, holding his form proudly erect, 

 his head in the air, while his golden bosom, 

 with its black crescent on the chest, flashes in 

 the sun ; or see him as he starts up and wheels 

 away in graceful flight, beating the air with 

 short, sharp wing strokes and spreading out 

 his fanlike tail with its broad trimming of 

 white ; or listen to his fine whistle as he darts 

 like a feathered arrow across the fields : " Good 

 ch-e-e-r-r ! good ch-e-e-r-r-r ! " By these signs 

 you will know him the very next time you 

 meet him in the field. 



In my neighborhood (southwestern Ohio) 

 the meadow larks are plentiful. Every field 

 and meadow has its presiding geniuses, so to 



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