rCTKRID.E -THE OlilOLES. I7-, 



Saskatcliewan, wliero it ariives about tlie tirst of May. In a lar^'e portion 

 of the riiited Stau^s it is resident, or only partially nii;4ratory. 



In Maine this species is not ahuntlant. A few are found in Southern 

 Maine, even as far to the east as Calais, where it is very rare. It was not 

 found in Oxford County hy Mr. Verrill. In New Hampshire and Vermont, 

 esjteeially in liie southern portions, it is much more ahundant. Throu«;hout 

 Mas.sachusetis it is a connnon summer visitant, a few remaining all winter, 

 the greater number coming in March and leaving again in November, at 

 which time they seem to be .somewhat, tlwuigh only partially, gregarious. 

 South of Massaeliusetts it becomes more generallv resident, and is on!v verv 

 l)artially migratory, where tlie dei)th of snow comj)els them to seek food 

 elsewhere. Wilson states that he met a few of the.se birds in the month 

 of Feitruary, (hiring a deep snow, among the heights of the AUeghanies, 

 near Somerset, I'enn. 



The lavorite resorts of this species are old fields, pasture-laiuls, and mead- 

 ows, localities in which they can best procure the insects, largely coleopter- 

 ous, and tlie seeds on whicli they feed. They are not found in woods or 

 thickets, or only in very exce])tional cases. 



In Xew England thev are shy, retiring birds, and are rarely seen in the 

 neighborhood of houses; but in Georgia and South Candina, Wilson found 

 them swarming anionii the rice idantations, and running about in the yards 

 and the out-building.s, in coinjniny with the Killdeer Plovers, with little 

 or no a]>])earjince of fear, and as if domesticated. 



In Alabama and West Florida, Mr. Xuttall states, the birds abound dur- 

 ing the winter months, and may be seen in considerable numbers iii the salt 

 marshes, seeking their food and the shelter of the sea-coast. They are then 

 in loo.se Hocks of from ten to thirty. At this season many are shot and 

 brought to market. By some their tiesh is said to be sweet and --(jod : but 

 this is denied by Audubon, who states it to be tough and of unpleasant flavor. 



Mr. Sclater records the occurrence of one or more individuals of this 

 species in England. 



The song of the eastern Meadow Lark is chiefly distinguished for its 

 sweetness more than any other e.xeellenee. When, in sjiring, at the height 

 of their love-season, they alight on the i)ost of a fence, a Inish, or tree, or 

 any other high object, they will give utterance to notes that, in sweetness 

 and tenderness of expression, are surpassed by very few of our birds. But 

 they are wanting in variety and power, and are freciuently varied, but not 

 improved, by the substitution of chattering call-notes, which are much infe- 

 rior in quality. It is noticeable that at tlie West there is a very great im- 

 provement in the song of this bird as com])ared with that of their more 

 eastern kindred, though still very far from e([ualling, either in volume, 

 variety, or power, the remarkable song of the in'ijb:d.a. 



In the fall of the year these birds collect in small companies, and feed 

 together in the same localities, but keeping, individually, somewhat apart. 



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