BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



Meadowlark dipped in at a moment our eyes 

 were raised to look at a Bobolink singing near 

 by. Again we were sure we heard the little 

 ones and that the Meadowlark flew out from 

 the same spot, and we examined every inch of 

 the ground about there, but found no nest. 

 And all the time the old birds circled anxiously 

 about, confirming our belief that the nest was 

 somewhere near. Our searching had aroused 

 their suspicions and they tried to lead us away 

 by dipping, down at another place. The 

 Meadowlarks in the lower field would not have 

 minded our presence in the slightest, but this 

 was evidently a pair that had not nested here 

 before. 



Presently, convinced that we had not found 

 their little ones they went back where the hay 

 had been cut, short grass being their best hunt- 

 ing ground. Partly hidden by the grass we sat 

 down near the spot where we thought they had 

 their nest, and waited. It was a long wait. 

 The resourceful boy explained it by saying that 

 worms might be getting scarce. At last, how- 

 ever, the birds came flying over towards us 

 with food in their beaks. One circled up to 

 the rail fence and alighted on the highest post. 

 [93] 



