On the Cattle Ranges 81 



I spoke above of the sweet singing of the Western 

 meadow-lark and plains skylark; neither of them 

 kin to the true skylark, by the way, one being a 

 cousin of the grakles and hang-birds, and the other 

 a kind of pipit. To me both of these birds are among 

 the most attractive singers to which I have ever list 

 ened ; but with all bird-music much must be allowed 

 for the surroundings and much for the mood, and 

 the keenness of sense, of the listener. The lilt of the 

 little plains skylark is neither very powerful nor very 

 melodious; but it is sweet, pure, long-sustained, 

 with a ring of courage befitting a song uttered in 

 highest air. 



The meadow-lark is a singer of a higher order, 

 deserving to rank with the best. Its song has 

 length, variety, power, and rich melody; and there 

 is in it sometimes a cadence of wild sadness, inex 

 pressibly touching. Yet I can not say that either 

 song would appeal to others as it appeals to me ; for 

 to me it comes forever laden with a hundred memo 

 ries and associations ; with the sight of dim hills 

 reddening in the dawn, with the breath of cool morn 

 ing winds blowing across lonely plains, with the 

 scent of flowers on the sunlit prairie, with the mo 

 tion of fiery horses, with all the strong thrill of 

 eager and buoyant life. I doubt if any man can 

 judge dispassionately the bird songs of his own coun 

 try ; he can not disassociate them from the sights and 

 sounds of the land that is so dear to him. 



