66 THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 
At nesting time the Western Meadowlark enjoys a wide distribution in 
Washington. It is found not only on all grassy lowlands and in cultivated 
sections but in the open sage as well and upon the half-open pine-clad foot- 
hills up to an altitude of four thousand feet. 
The Meadowlark is an assiduous nester. This not because of any un- 
usual amativeness but because young Meadowlarks are the morceaux déliciewx 
of all the powers that prey, skunks, weasels, mink, raccoons, coyotes, snakes, 
magpies, crows. Hawks and owls otherwise blameless in the bird-world err 
here—the game is too easy. Even the noble Peregrine does not disdain 
this humble, albeit tooth- 
some, quarry, and the 
Least Falcon (Falco 
sparverius phalena) will 
stoop for a young Mead- 
owlark when all other 
avian offerings are virtu- 
ously passed by. 
Fecundity then is the 
only recourse,—this, and 
concealment. Not rely- 
ing altogether upon its 
marvelous protective 
coloration the lark 
exhibits great cau- 
tion in approaching, 
and, if possible, in f 7} 
quitting its nest. In 
either case it sneaks 
along the ground for 
a considerable dis- ‘ 
tance, threading the ‘> 
mazes of the grass 
so artfully that the 
human eye can fol- 
low with difficulty or 
not at all. At the ap- 
proach of danger a sitting 
bird may either steal from her 
nest unobserved and rise at a 
safe distance or else seek to 
further her deception by feign- 
Taken in Stevens County. 
Photo by the Author. 
ing lameness after the fashion NEST AND EGGS OF THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 
