tion is undeserved. Find ont all you can of his habits, where he builds 

 his nest and how. How can you tell him from a bue-bird, for he too has 

 a blue coat and black bill and legs? Are there any markings on his 

 wings or throat or head, by which you may always know him? 



Now let us stop for to-day and take another trip together late in 

 April, but do not let us forget to watch the birds every day until then. 



The morning is the best time to study birds, so let us start early for 

 the woods this bright April day. This field so green with its covering 

 of young wheat is just the place to find one of our familiar birds, the 

 meadow lark. So two of you have seen him at the same time. One 

 has seen him walking between the ro^s of wheat and the other 

 perched on the top of a rail fence. Now as you have found him you 

 may answer our questions about him. What is the color of his back 

 and of his wings? Is it a solid color or is it speckled? What is the 

 color of his breast? Has he any qiieerly shaped mark upon it? Sup- 

 pose you describe it. What is the color of his legs and beak? How 

 long do jon think he is? Is he larger or smaller than the robin? How 

 did he move when on the ground, did he walk or hop? As you are 

 studying birds this spring, suppose you make a list of the birds that 

 walk and another list of the birds that hop when moving about on the 

 ground. At the end of the season see which list is the longer. Let us 

 watch the bird upon the fence and perhaps we can see him when he 

 sings. It will not take us very long, for the meadow-lark like the 

 robin is almost always singing. Listen to his song and see how he 

 throws back his dear little head in true operatic style. What do you 

 think he says? Some people who love the meadow-lark think it is, "/ 

 see you, you can't see me." Whatever it is, he evidently thinks this is 

 a beautiful world and is telling us so. 



Go over into the meadow and see if you can find the meadow-lark's 

 nest. It ought to be on the ground, concealed by some of the long 

 grass. But what is that gorgeous bird, with his crimson epaulets bor- 

 dered with buff that we have disturbed so that it is flying away? You 

 all know him, because he is our very common red-shouldered black- 

 bird. Do you hear what he is saying as he flies away? Listen closely 

 so that you can recognize him by his call after this. He is a very 

 great friend of the meadow-lark at this season of the year, and usually 

 chooses the same meadow for his nesting place. But we must go on 

 or we will not reach the woods. Here is a nest which I almost stum- 

 bled on in the grass. Yes, it is the meadow-lark's nest, and in it are 

 four eggs. What color are they. Don't disturb it, for we want to see 

 some baby larks in the weeks to come, and hear some more lark songs 

 next spring. 



