A DAY ON THE BAY SHORE 



forms by its very dark, pronounced tone of coloration. We 

 may even be favored with the song of this httle bird as it sits 

 on a fence rail — a queer, wheezy attempt, sounding as if the 

 bird had a cold. 



We may be fortunate enough to encounter a flock of 

 streaked horned larks during the course of our ramble over the 

 bay-shore fields. The birds may be known by the strange 

 black tufts of feathers which extend back above the eyes of 

 the male birds. They are about the size of a sparrow, white 

 breasted with a conspicuous black patch in the center. There 

 is a small black spot below the eye and a tinge of yellow on 

 the face and throat. The white forehead is contrasted with 

 black on top of the head and the back is of a brownish pink 

 tone, streaked with grayish. A flock of these northern larks 

 running about the fields is a pretty sight indeed. 



The tule-wren is another inhabitant of the bay-shore 

 marshes, but we must be on the qui vi've if we are to have even 

 a passing glimpse of the little fellow. Let us walk into the 

 midst of the dense tangle of marsh-grass and try to flush one 

 from its hiding-place. It will allow us to almost tread upon it 

 before arising, and then flit away to another hiding-place, to 

 disappear as effectually as the proverbial needle in a haystack. 



The short-eared owl lives in these same marsh-grasses, and 

 far above, the graceful, white-tailed kite, with snowy breast, 

 is soaring in circles through the air. In the fields close by the 

 marshes are flocks of American pipits, running about and 

 teetering every now and then in their curious fashion. A 

 clump of buckeyes harbors the song-sparrow and the active 

 little Audubon's warbler, while the call of the meadow-lark 

 sounds afar oft. 



[571 



