AMERICAN SKYLARKS 207 



The present was a good season for horned 

 larks in Franconia, we told ourselves. Two 

 years ago, at this same time of the year, I 

 had gone more than once past all these 

 places. If the birds were here then I over- 

 looked them. The thing is not impossible, 

 of course ; there is no limit to human dull- 

 ness ; but I prefer to think otherwise. A 

 man, even an amateur ornithologist, should 

 believe himself innocent until he is proved 

 guilty. 



