BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



The other came nearer and alighted cautiously 

 on the grass. The boy jumped up at once to 

 see just where. Immediately the one on the 

 post called to the other. It flew up, and to- 

 gether they went back to the short grass and 

 they would not come again while we were 

 there. 



We searched again for the nest, while the 

 small boy decided that it was not the difficulty 

 in getting worms that had delayed them, but 

 that they had been planning how to get to the 

 nest without being seen, and their scheme was 

 that one should fly to the nest while the other 

 watched from the high post, and, if we were 

 still there, call to it to come back. 



Our search was in vain. So carefully was 

 the nest concealed that surely it would be safe 

 from the ravages of crows and blackbirds. 

 Some days afterwards we found the spot low 

 on the ground and domed over. The young 

 birds had flown then. So one nest was safe, a 

 thing which every year is becoming more un- 

 usual, for no bird is beset by greater dangers. 

 Cats, red squirrels, crows and weasels all prey 

 upon the Meadowlarks and, nesting in the 

 meadows as they do, they would seldom rear 



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