A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



at hand, but, heard in the proper perspec- 

 tive, it is eminently melodious and pleasing. 

 It is one of the major notes of the fields at 

 this season. In fact, it easily dominates all 

 others. " Spring o> the year ! spring rf the 

 year /" it says, with a long-drawn breath, 

 a little plaintive, but not complaining or 

 melancholy. At times it indulges in some- 

 thing much more intricate and lark-like 

 while hovering on the wing in mid-air, but 

 a song is beyond the compass of its instru- 

 ment, and the attempt usually ends in a 

 breakdown. A clear, sweet, strong, high- 

 keyed note, uttered from some knoll or 

 rock, or stake in the fence, is its proper 

 vocal performance. It has the build and 

 walk and flight of the quail and the grouse. 

 It gets up before you in much the same 

 manner, and falls an easy prey to the crack 

 shot. Its yellow breast, surmounted by a 

 black crescent, it need not be ashamed to 

 turn to the morning sun, while its coat of 

 mottled gray is in perfect keeping with the 

 stubble amid which it walks. 



The two lateral white quills in its tails 



seem strictly in character. These quills 



spring from a dash of scorn and defiance in 



the bird's make-up. By the aid of these, 



78 



