The Dickcissel 173 



spring and summer, the males, sometimes to the number of 

 a dozen or more for each meadow of considerable extent, perch 

 upon the summits of tall weed stalks or fence stakes, at short 

 intervals, crying out, 'See, see Dick, Dick, Cissel, Cissel;' 

 therefore 'Dick Cissel' is well known to every farmer's boy 

 as well as to all who visit the country during the season of 

 clover blossoms and wild roses, when 'Dame Nature' is in her 

 most joyous mood." 



The dickcissel in some respects resembles the meadow 

 lark, and hence its name little meadow lark and little field lark. 

 It has the black patch on a yellow throat and is a bird of our 

 clover fields. Just as the clover was in full bloom in 1906 I had 

 occasion to pass through one of these fields just at dusk. By 

 their chattering and flight, I observed that large numbers of 

 some species of birds were going to roost in the clover, but 

 could not tell what kind of birds they were. The next morn- 

 ing I repassed that way, and discovered that the birds were 

 dickcissels. By the last of July almost all of them were 

 gone. Dr. Judd says : "Most sparrows are gregarious, but 

 dickcissels move about in pairs or little family groups. In 

 many places they are so numerous that a score of individuals 

 may be found in every hay field and meadow ; and the species 

 is as characteristic of such localities as the robin is of the New 

 England lawn or the mocking bird of the Florida plantation. 

 The song consists of a series of monotonous insect notes, re- 

 peated incessantly from morn to late afternoon, resembling 

 somewhat the heat-suggestive tones of the grasshopper." In 

 his examination of the food of their nesting he found that it 

 chiefly consisted of short and long-horned grasshoppers and 

 crickets. The adult birds live largely upon grasshoppers and 

 other meadow insects. They have been found to be very de- 

 structive of canker-worms. About one-half of their food con- 

 sists of weed and grass seeds. 



I have but one grandchild, a boy now ten years old. Of 

 course he is and always has been his grandfather's pet. He 

 has always called me Gaga. From his infancy he has been 

 taught to love the birds, and he knows many of them. From 

 Somerleaze to the station is about two miles. Alongside the 

 road is a telephone line. About half way the distance, for 



