MEADOW LARK. 8 1 



not inconsiderable, bears some resemblance to the slender sing- 

 ing and affected pronunciation of et se dec ah, and psedee etsVw, 

 or till sediiio in a slow, wiry, shrill tone, and sometimes differ- 

 ently varied and shortened. The same simple ditty is repeated 

 in the spring, when they associate in pairs ; the female also, as 

 she rises or descends, at this time frequently gives a reiterated 

 guttural chirp, or hurried twitter, like that of the female Red- 

 winged Blackbird. I have likewise at times heard them utter 

 notes much more musical and vigorous, not very unhke the fine 

 tones of the Sky Lark ; but I can by no means compare our 

 lisping songster with that blithe "harbinger of day." There 

 is a monotonous affectation in the song of our Lark which 

 appears indeed somewhat allied to the jingling, though not 

 unpleasant, tune of the Starling. The Stare, moreover, had the 

 faculty of imitating human speech (which ours has not, as far 

 as we yet know), and could indifferently speak even French, 

 English, German, Latin, and Greek, or any other language 

 within his hearing, and repeat short phrases ; so that " ' I ca/i't 

 get out, I can' t get out,' says the Starling," which accidentally 

 afforded Sterne such a beautiful and pathetic subject for his 

 graphic pen, was probably no fiction. 



At the time of pairing, our Lark exhibits a little of the 

 jealous disposition of his tribe ; and having settled the dispute 

 which decides his future condition, he retires from his fra- 

 ternity, and, assisted by his mate, selects a thick tuft for the 

 reception of his nest, which is pretty compact, made of dry, 

 wiry grass, and lined w4th finer blades of the same. It is 

 usually formed with a covered entrance in the surroundmg 

 withered grass, through which a hidden and almost winding 

 path is made, and generally so well concealed that the nest is 

 only to be found when the bird is flushed. 



The eggs are four or five, white, with a very faint tint of 

 blue, almost round, and rather large, for the size of the bird, 

 marked with numerous small reddish-brown spots, more nu- 

 merous at the greater end, blended with other lighter and 

 ■darker points and small spots of the same. They probably 

 often raise two broods in the season. About the time of 



VOL. I. — 6 



