152 Bird-Land Echoes. 



and chase the shadows with their ringing appeal to 

 come out and see the beginnings of spring-tide 

 handiwork. It is an assuring song, and therefore of 

 greater moment than the sweetest melody. 



As regards the habits of the meadow-lark, much 

 depends upon the character of the country and the 

 time of year. The term ** meadow," formerly so 

 appropriate, has lost its significance, and we are more 

 truly descriptive in calling it '* field" lark, for the 

 lowlands have been largely abandoned for the up- 

 land pastures; and in winter we could say** tree" 

 lark without misleading, for this bird has always been 

 a lover of the lone relics of the old forests, particu- 

 larly those that stand alone and give opportunity for 

 observing the landscape in all directions. '* Outlook" 

 lark would also not be a misnomer, though it must 

 not be inferred from this that these birds are not 

 much upon the ground, for they love to loiter in the 

 long grass, to run like meadow-mice between the 

 hassocks, and are cunning enough to hide and let 

 you pass by, and then, when your back is turned, 

 go sailing off in the opposite direction, giving fuller 

 meaning than ever to my translation of their song : 

 " / see you — you can't see me.'' 



While wandering over these same meadows on a 

 golden-gray October afternoon, when the sun is near 

 its setting, flushing myriads of sparrows from the 

 weeds at every step, we are sometimes startled by a 

 whirring of many wings, and a company of larks 

 hurry to the willow hedges and the posts of the 

 iniquitous barbed-wire fence. Every available prom- 



