BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



alfalfa fields. Moreover some Meadowlarks 

 are often behind the others in bringing out their 

 families. This was the case on the farm last 

 summer, when down in the meadow young 

 Meadowlarks were big enough to fly about 

 hunting their own food, but up in the clover 

 field, which the men would be cutting any day, 

 we had reason to believe was a Meadowlark's 

 nest that would be in serious danger. Perhaps 

 this pair of Meadowlarks had come to grief 

 with their first nest and making a fresh start 

 had delayed them until haying-time. So we 

 attempted to locate the spot where their little 

 ones were and protect it from rake and mower. 

 To do this sounded easy, but Meadowlarks are 

 very wise and wonderful. Were they not so 

 they would have become extinct long ago. 



Standing very still among the tall clover we 

 saw the Meadowlark alight so near that we 

 could hear the young when she went to feed 

 them. Directly the bird flew up, we kept our 

 eyes on the particular clump of tall grass from 

 which she emerged and walked quickly to the 

 spot. Not a sign of Meadowlark's nest ! Had 

 we mistaken the particular spot? Walking a 

 little way off we watched again. But the 



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