16 



-in to express the feeling of joy that pervades all nature in June. The birds 

 arrive here about the middle of May, the males coming a few days before the 

 females. They resort at once to the hay meadows, and remain there through the 

 nesting season which is concluded by the time the hay is ready to cut. Whilst 

 on the farms their food consists entirely of insects, of which the caterpillars that 

 feed on clover form the greater part. These caterpillars are very abundant, and, 

 where they are not kept in check by the birds, sometimes do serious injury, so 

 that apart from its appearance, and its good qualities as a musician, the Bobolink 

 has a claim upon us which entitles it to our best care and protection. After the 

 hay is cut the males lose their black and white plumage, and become like the 

 females and young in appearance, of a yellowish brown color. They then asso- 

 ciate in small Hocks and frequent the marshes, feeding on wild rice and the seeds 

 of some rush-like plants until the first frosts come, when they retire to the south 

 i'<r tin- winter. 



In the rice growing States these birds are sometimes accused of doing con- 

 siderable mischief to the planters' crops, but I am inclined to think that the 

 various species of blackbirds which also resort to these States, are the principal 

 depredators, and by reason of their greater abundance do the most of the damage. 



Meadoiulark. The Meadowlark is a common though, unfortunately, not 

 now an abundant bird on the farm. Some years ago it could be found wherever 

 the land was cultivated, all through the Province, but owing to its size and slow 

 straight flight, which makes it an easy mark for the gunner, its numbers are 

 drrivasing very fast. This is a great pity, for it is an exceedingly valuable bird 

 t< the farmer. From the time of its arrival here in March until its departure in 

 November it resorts to the cultivated land and grass meadows, feeding entirely 7 

 on insects, and never indulging in grain or fruit of any kind. All its work being 

 done amongst the crops upon which man expends his labor and to which he is 

 compelled to look for his subsistence, the benefit conferred is direct and should 

 be appreciated. We cannot make any return for the good it does, but we can at 

 least refrain from destroying its life, and exert ourselves a little to prevent others 

 from doing so. The class of insects upon which this bird feeds during the early 

 part of the season is perhaps the most injurious to vegetable life of all our insect 

 enemies. Its food consists chiefly of those known as cut worms, wire worms, etc., 

 all of which work underground for the most part during the day and only emerge 

 from their hiding places at night. By some highly developed faculty the 

 Meadowlark is enabled to locate these creatures in their hiding places, arid being 

 provided with a sharp beak of sufficient length for the purpose, is able to dray 

 them out and devour them. Of all the stomachs I have examined prior to 

 July, tin- principal contents were wire worms, cut worms, and some few 

 other caterpillars and beetles ; later in the season the food consisted principally 

 of grasshoppers. On two or three occasions I have found a few of these birds 

 wintering with us, in the vicinity of market gardens, and being curious to know 

 if at that season they had been compelled to fall back on a seed or vegetable diet, 

 1 shot one out of each lot, and I found the birds were in remarkably good 

 condition. Their stomachs contained, however, nothing but insects, chiefly bugs 

 and beetles, which they had probably obtained from manure heaps and the 

 refuse cabbages left in the gardens. These birds build a domed nest on the ground, 

 in grass fields ; their eggs and young are therefore liable to be destroyed by Crows, 

 skunks and other vermin, and those that escape their natural enemies are subject 

 to such continued persecution from gunners who ought to know better, that our 

 l>Mutiful and useful Meadowlark is in danger of extermination, unless some 

 tt'ort is made for its protection. 



