324 THE MEADOW LARK. 



132. THE MEADOW LARK. 



Alauda Pratensis, Lix. Alouette despres ou Farlov^e, BUF. Der 

 Wiesenpciper, oder die Wiesenlerche, BECU. 



Description. This bird, which measures five inches and a 

 half in length, is very like the Titlark; though it may be 

 easily and certainly distinguished from it by the straightness 

 of its spur or hinder claw. Besides this, it is generally smaller ; 

 the feet redder, the head larger, and the beak, which is only 

 two inches in length, thinner and not so long. The upper 

 part of the body is olive green, spotted with blackish brown ; 

 the rump reddish greyish green, mottled with grey. A dis- 

 tinct whitish yellow stripe passes above the eyes, and another 

 of a similar colour encircles the cheeks. The under part of 

 the body is dirty white, reddish yellow on the breast, and 

 tinged on the sides of the breast and belly with greenish yel- 

 low. The breast is covered with oval black spots, and the 

 upper part of the belly with triangular specks of the same 

 colour. The wings are traversed by a double white stripe ; 

 the pen feathers are dark brown ; the feathers of the tail, 

 which is somewhat forked, blackish. The external feathers 

 are, however, half white, and the others are marked by a 

 wedge-shaped white spot. 



The plumage of the female is generally lighter in colour. 



Habitat. The Meadow Lark frequents lakes, rivers, marshes, 

 and damp meadows. In September it may be seen in great 

 numbers on the meadows and among the stubble fields ; while 

 in October, it collects in large flocks, and takes its departure. 

 It is almost the last bird of passage to leave us, as its shrill cry, 

 Bis, Us I may often be heard in the meadows, even in Novem- 

 ber and December. It returns in March. 



"When in confinement, it may either be allowed to range the 

 room, or be kept in a Lark's cage, which, as in the case of the 

 Titlark, and for the same reason, should be furnished with a 

 couple of perches. 



Food. In a wild state the Meadow Lark feeds on insects, 

 especially aquatic species. In the aviary it is the tenderest of 

 its kind, and can be inured to the universal paste only with 

 great difficulty. The best diet for this purpose is composed 01 

 ants' eggs and chopped meal worms, mixed with soaked bread 

 and meal. As it always requires both ants' eggs and meal- 



