THE MEADOW LAEK. 189 



chagrin. Loudly he then calls, as if reproach- 

 fully, or even in anger, when suddenly all is 

 changed to tenderness at the timid gentle tones 

 which tell the coming of his love. His wings 

 are spread immediately, and with sprightly bliss 

 he flies to meet her. 



Precious moments of mutual rapture are then 

 passed, and the tale of their affection is melodi- 

 ously told, when sweet assurance of undying 

 fidelity are given in answer to gentle chidings 

 for delay. The flight of the meadow lark is 

 peculiar. Suddenly springing from the ground, 

 with the flittering movement of a young bird, it 

 pauses for a while in its course, glancing at the 

 same time backwards, as though suspicious of 

 danger. 



If pursued, it moves more swiftly, sailing and 

 beating its wings alternately, until it floats far 

 away into the bright azure, like a spirit of glad- 

 ness. Migrating always by day, it is sometimes 

 seen in groups of fifty or a hundred, flying above 

 the tallest forest trees. Cases of single combat 

 not unfrequently occur by the way, when the 

 fugitive foes who have wandered from the track 

 to indulge their wrath, are all at once reconciled 

 — hasten their flight to overtake their com- 

 panions in their course, and the march is peace- 

 ably continued. On the approach of Spring, 

 these flocks are broken up, and the male birds 



