156 MEADOWLARK, 
is almost sure to find Meadowlarks. They are strong. 
legzed walkers, and spend all their time while feeding 
Meadowlark, 00 the ground. Like all terrestrial, 
Sturnella magna, protectively colored birds, they often 
Plate XXXIX. try to escape observation by hiding in 
the grasses rather than by flying. When perched in a 
tree or other exposed position, they are among the shyest 
of our smaller birds, rarely permitting a near approach ; 
but when they fancy themselves concealed on the ground 
they sometimes “lie as close” as Bob-whites. When 
flushed they fly rapidly, alternately flapping and sailing, 
showing as they fly the white feathers on either side of 
their tail. These feathers are the Meadowlark’s best field 
character. They are very conspicuous when he is on the ~ 
wing, and, when perching, if he is alarmed or excited, he — 
exposes them by nervously flitting or twitching his tail. 
This movement is generally accompanied by a single 
nasal call-note, which changes to a rolling twitter as the 
bird takes wing. Neither of these notes give any indi- 
cation of the sweetness of the bird’s song, a high musical 
whistle, clear as the note of a fife, sweet as the tone of a 
flute. It is subject to much variation both individual 
and local, but the song I oftenest hear in northern New 
Jersey may be written : 
When singing, the birds usually perch in an exposed po- 
sition, generally choosing the topmost branches of a tree 
or a dead limb. . 
The Meadowlark’s nest is placed upon the ground, as 
a rule, in a tuft of grasses which is arranged to form a 
dome over it. The eggs, four to six in number, are laid 
about May 15, and in color are white, spotted or speckled 
with cinnamon or reddish brown. 
