MEADOW LARK. 



439 



of the same species in New Englaml, that when I first heard it could scared}- belicA-e it Avas 

 a Meadow Lark. This hiy even in the North has a peculiar iutunation which is ijuite sug- 

 gestive of freedom, but that given by the birds which inhabit the trackless piney woods and 

 wide-spread plains of Florida is, although very melodious and pleasing, so wild, clear and 

 ringing, that it is in pei'fect harmony with surrjundings where Nature reigiii sapremo. 



As we advance northward through Florida, more into the Ii luuts of civilization, we 

 find that the Meadow Larks gradually learn the lesson that all birds acquire sooner or la- 

 ter, — the fear of man. Thus I found them rather on the alert in the neighborhood of small 

 settlements and near Jacksonville they were fully as shy as in Massachusetts. This is 

 largely due to the fact that as they frequent the plantations they are often hunted as game. 

 They are also looked upon as nuisances for they eat rye and other grains, frequenting newly 

 sown fields in large numbers for this purpose, and specimens that I shot on a plantation 

 were filled with rye, though they usually subsist upon insects. Probably the cultivated 

 district affords them better facilities for obtaining food, for as we proceed further north- 

 ward into Georgia and the Carolinas they almost wholly abandon the wooded districts. In 

 Pennsylvania and Massachusetts they are seldom, if ever, found in other than open fields 

 which have been cultivated at some recent period, excepting on the coast where they often 

 occur on the salt marshes. They never nest there, however, but build on the uplands at 

 some distance from the water. 



The Meadow Larks breed in Florida during the last week of April but do not lay in 

 Massachusetts until the middle of May. The nests in the latter named section are placed 

 in the grass and although often open arc sometimes domed, occasionally there being a cover- 

 ed passage for some distance. When the female is sitting, the male lingers near and seated 

 on some tree pours forth his loud, clear lay which is certainly one of the most thrilling and 

 enlivening songs given by any of our native birds. 



By July the young may be seen in company with their parents who exhibit great .solic- 

 itude for their safety, flying about and uttering sharp cries until their ofispring are induced 

 1-0 take wing when all move away to some adjacent field. The family continues in compa- 

 ny and are frequently joined by others until quite large flocks accunmlate in autumn. At 

 this season they are rather peculiar in habits, as they often crouch in gras'^ which is high 

 enough to conceal them until the intruder comes very near, when they will rise suddenly 

 and fly swiftly away in a straight line, giving a few sharp notes as they go. Those in the 

 immediate neighborhood will not always start at the report of a gun, and will only jump 

 when approached quite closely. They appear to become very much attached to certain 

 localities and will always return to spend the night in chosen spots, often coming in long 

 after .sunset. They repose on the ground in scattering groups and start ipute readily even 

 during the darkest niglits. 



The Larks of Massachusetts linger until late in autumn, moving southward when the 

 ground becomes covered witli snow, l)ut they arc apt to return occasionally during the mild- 

 er weather, and I have taken them in every month of the year. Therefore I shouhl judge 

 that the birds which breed in any one locality seldom go far from it. South of Virginia 

 they arc not migratory at all, or at best only gather in large flocks. 



