398 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



call, from out in the weeds. No answer came till she had repeated it 

 several times, then there was a very slight rustle about my feet, as 

 some half dozen little black and brown creatures appeared coming 

 from under weeds, fallen grass and anything that would afford them, 

 concealment, all running towards the mother just as fast as their little 

 legs would carry them. After they had gone a few feet they would 

 suddenly dart under the first cover that offered, as if afraid the danger 

 was not yet over. Then others would appear all making for the 

 mother's call. In their haste their little feet persisted in catching in 

 the grass, tripping them and frequently turning them heels over head,, 

 but they were instantly up and gone again. Sometimes they would 

 run squarely into obstacles they could never have hoped to mount. 

 Perhaps they expected such things to fade into air — it looked that way 

 to me anyhow — but I fear they only caused their heads to ache from 

 the hard knocks. Finally sixteen had entered the weeds and evident- 

 ly reached the mother's side but she kept calling. I suppose the six- 

 teen were all she had as I saw no more in the open space, and won- 

 dered why she kept calling, when, as if in answer to my thought a 

 very faint and frightened "peep"-like note came from somewhere near 

 my feet, and another little fellow soon ventured from his hiding place 

 and proceeded with all possible speed towards his mother. O, how he 

 did run. A moment later the old bird ceased calling and I could hear 

 the contented chirps of all as she led them off through the weeds. 



During the latter part of May, 1902, a meadow lark's nest was dis- 

 covered in a meadow in which a few cows were kept. When discover- 

 ed, the nest contained four young birds, perhaps a week old. The 

 nest was a typical example of the meadow lark's skill, fairly well con- 

 cealed, and very cozy inside. I noticed with pleasure the thrifty ap- 

 pearance and rapid growth of the little birds until they were pretty well 

 feathered out and then, one day when I went to make them a visit I 

 found instead of the nest a cow's track in the bottom of which was a 

 bloody mass of flesh and feathers. Four little mangled corpses, all 

 that was left of the four little quiet, bright eyed creatures I had looked 

 down upon only a few hours before. As this nest was all that had at- 

 tracted me to tne meadow, I went there no more for nearly two weeks, 

 and then I went for the special purpose or finding if possible their new 

 nest, for I knew enough about them to know they would not cry long 

 over spilt milk, so to speak. Almost as soon as I reached the mea- 

 dow, I heard that well known sputtering cry that always greeted me 

 when I went there. I perceived the lark in the top of a tree, fifty yards 

 from me, whereGwith head erect and tail nervously twitching she sat 

 for several minutes every now and then uttering that peculiar protest. 



