Meadow Lark. 17 



cates a veritable overflow of spirits, aud is accompanied 

 by aimless soaring and sailing in both curves and straight 

 lines, sometimes upward and then obliquely downward, a 

 medley of chattering, fluttering, and sailing. 



It seems to me that the melodious piping of the 

 meadow lark can be best heard and most appreciated by 

 the bird lover during a short ramble in the meadow about 

 sunset of any perfect day in middle April, Other musi- 

 cians in nature's choir are then chanting their vespers 

 from hedgerow, tree, or the open ground. The good- 

 night ditty of the song sparrow arises from the summit of 

 an adjacent brush-heap, the clear warbling of the blue- 

 bird is wafted to our ears, the faithful sunset carols and 

 interlarded squeaks of a robin come down to us from his 

 perch in the top of a tall elm, while from nearer sources 

 we recognize the twittering songs of the horned larks 

 and the tender voice of the mourning doves. Out in a 

 convenient meadow, however, we remark the prominence 

 of the meadow larks in the oratorio to the waning day; for 

 here and there we note their presence as we are charmed 

 with their mellow plaints and their ringing expressions 

 of eloquent sympathy. The sun has passed beyond the 

 limit of golden yellow light, and the blue of the East has 

 taken on a rapidly darkening hue. The voices of the 

 fading day become so few that each performance has ac- 

 quired greater prominence and interest, and now the 

 vibrant whistles, and rich, melodious phrases of the 

 meadow larks seem to become richer and more vibrant, 

 even as they are fewer and farther away. Through the 

 period of gathering dusk we linger, held by the sweetness 

 and charm of these bird voices of the night, and not 

 until the purple darkness of the East has finally veiled 

 the trailing glory of the West do the last good-night 

 whistles and songs die away on our ears, and we finally 

 turn our steps homeward. 



The meadow larks do not prepare to rear their broods 

 until the south winds have dried the hollows of the 

 meadows, and the grass tufts have begun to show among 

 the verdant areas. The honeymoon occupies the early 

 part of April, and happy scenes of courtship engage the 

 hours of the animated creatures. However, many of the 

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