2 CO Bicknell on the Singing of Birds. tJ ul y 



March and April, and less truly May, are here their chief song- 

 months. Later they resign the gallantly of courtship and, per- 

 haps viewing the practical situation to which it has brought them, 

 lose their readiness of voice, many, in fact, being reduced to 

 complete silence. This state of things begins to be noticeable 

 after the middle of May, and gradually becomes more appai'ent, 

 although singing never wholly fails before July. By the middle 

 of that month, even though the birds continue abundant, usually 

 but few remain in voice. Dates of final songs bear record between 

 July 17 and 28, and August 3. 



After this time the movements of the species are rather perplex- 

 ing. About the end of July almost all the adult males disappear, 

 while the females and young remain abundant — even appear to 

 increase in numbers — and multitudes often congregate at late 

 afternoon in the mowed meadows. In September these have 

 departed and the species is usually uncommon ; indeed, in some 

 years it appears to be altogether absent in this month. In October 

 it becomes common again and singing is transiently renewed. But 

 so fleeting is the period of autumn song that it may readily escape 

 notice, and doubtless for this reason it is chronicled on my 

 records only for two seasons. In 1S78 it lasted from October 14 

 to 17, when song from a number of birds was full and perfect; 

 in 1SS0 several songs of varying perfection were heard on Octo- 

 ber 17, but on n© other day. 



Sturnella magna. Meadow Lark. 



Though the Meadow Lark gives us many months of its music, 

 its song finds chief place in memory among the bird voices of 

 earliest spring. Then flocks assemble in tall trees overlooking 

 their favorite meadows, where the medley of their mingled songs 

 is an agreeable change from the winter silence of the sere grass 

 lands. 



Often they are preceded in song only by the Bluebird and the 

 Song Sparrow. I have known them to be singing by February 8 

 (1SS0) ; but they do not often anticipate early March, and when 

 it happens that they are not present at the breaking up of winter 

 of course their song is not to be heard until they put in an 

 appearance, which may not be till early April. 



