THE MEADOW LARK. 189 
chagtin. Loudly he then calls, as if reproach 
fully, or even ix 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 
