APRIL 101 



namely, the naturalists. When Wilson or Audubon 

 gets his eye on the unknown bird, the illusion van- 

 ishes, and your phenomenon turns out to be one of 

 the commonplaces of the fields or woods. 



A prominent April bird, that one does not have 

 to go to the woods or away from his own door to see 

 and hear, is the hardy and ever- welcome meadow- 

 lark. What a twang there is about this bird, and 

 what vigor ! It smacks of the soil. It is the winged 

 embodiment of the spirit of our spring meadows. 

 What emphasis in its " s-d-t, z-d-t," and what char- 

 acter in its long, piercing note ! Its straight, taper- 

 ing, sharp beak is typical of its voice. Its note goes 

 like a shaft from a crossbow; it is a little too sharp 

 and piercing when near at hand, but, heard in the 

 proper perspective, it is eminently melodious and 

 pleasing. It is one of the major notes of the fields 

 at this season. In fact, it easily dominates all 

 others. " Spring o' the year ! spring o' the year I " 

 it says, with a long-drawn breath, a little plaintive, 

 but not complaining or melancholy. At times it 

 indulges in something much more intricate and lark- 

 like while hovering on the wing in midair, but a 

 song is beyond the compass of its instrument, and 

 the attempt usually ends in a breakdown. A clear, 

 sweet, strong, high-keyed note, uttered from some 

 knoll or rock, or stake in the fence, is its proper 

 vocal performance. It has the build and walk and 

 flight of the quail and the grouse. It gets up before 

 you in much the same manner, and falls an easy prey 

 to the crack shot. Its yellow breast, surmounted by 



