APRIL 



it can almost emit a flash as it struts about 

 the fields and jerks out its sharp notes. 

 They give a rayed, a definite and piquant 

 expression to its movements. This bird is 

 not properly a lark, but a starling, say the 

 ornithologists, though it is lark-like in its 

 habits, being a walker and entirely a ground- 

 bird. Its color also allies it to the true lark. 

 I believe there is no bird in the English or 

 European fields that answers to this hardy 

 pedestrian of our meadows. He is a true 

 American, and his note one of our charac- 

 teristic April sounds. 



Another marked April note, proceeding 

 sometimes from the meadows, but more 

 frequently from the rough pastures and 

 borders of the woods, is the call of the 

 high -hole, or golden - shafted woodpecker. 

 It is quite as strong as that of the meadow- 

 lark, but not so long-drawn and piercing. 

 It is a succession of short notes rapidly 

 uttered, as if the bird said " if-if-if-if-if-if- 

 if." The notes of the ordinary downy and 

 hairy woodpeckers suggest, in some way, 

 the sound of a steel punch ; but that of 

 the high-hole is much softer, and strikes 

 on the ear with real springtime melody. 

 The high -hole is not so much a wood-pecker 

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