FAMILY Icteride. 
But I am unable to say whether he had a grudge against 
the bride or simply forgot his part! To speak frankly 
about the musical ability of this bird, whose name fos- 
ters rather sanguine expectations, it is proper to say at 
once, that for so promising a fellow he is afraud. His 
voice is disappointing, wiry, and thin, and his attempts 
are always unfinished. Therefore he cannot justly be 
considered one of our best song-birds, even though Wil- 
son seems to have entertained a fairly good opinion of 
him. For he writes, ‘‘ Though this species cannot boast 
of the powers of song which distinguish that ‘ harbinger 
of day,’ the Skylark of Europe, yet in richness of plu- 
mage, as well as in sweetness of voice (as far as his few 
notes extend), he stands eminently its superior.” To 
sum up his qualities in a few words, he gives us a few 
whistles in clear, subtile, tremulous cadences which are 
really very fine and sweet. But he is nct to be com- 
pared with the Wood Thrush in tone of voico, nor with 
the Song Sparrow in variety of song-motive. He isa 
delightful songster, however, and his fragmentary mo- 
tives when connected together form an exccllent bit of 
melody; for instance, the song below (No. 1), which 
came from a bird in Middlebury, Vt., finds its response 
in the melody previously given (marked with an asterisk), 
from Wellesley Hills, Mass. The response is repeated 
here, in No. 2. 
Moderato, — SB a ee 
Jf) 4) 
LY Ae | yy 
asm Le) JE HG 
Of all birds the Meadowlark is the most provincial; he 
ranges over a vast territory, does not migrate very far 
from his breeding place, or perhaps does not migrate at 
all. As a consequence his character is perfectly reflected 
in his song; that, too, is strikingly provincial. The birds 
62 
