BY MILL- POND AND MEADOW. 151 



they are not among the birds about us. Nor are 

 they weaklings that mind the weather, but to all 

 appearances are as content when the day is bitter 

 cold as when it is steamy hot, the worst of all con- 

 ditions of what is called our temperate climate. 

 Then, too, they are never quite out of tune ; though 



Meadow-lark. 



to realize what the larks' musical powers really are 

 we should hear them in April. April is a peculiarly 

 exasperating month. Too often we retire at night 

 with an abiding faith that is weakened by a return 

 of winter in the morning ; but be it even arctic 

 weather, there is a renewal of that faith when the 

 meadow-larks make the most of the fitful sunshine, 



