Music of the Wild 



brightness of liis crown is emphasized by alter- 

 nating dark stripes, and his breastjilate becomes 

 Cloud ]-a(hant in contrast Avitli a dark collar. His back 

 Musicians (^.Qverizig is a mixture of dark-brown, gray, and 

 gray-broA\'n. The Agings are the same, touched witli 

 Avhite, and the middle feathers of the tail are sim- 

 ilar, the shorter outer ones tipped with white. His 

 habitat a])pears to be heaven, and his home earth, 

 whicli certainly seems contradictory. But it is true. 

 He is a l)ird of as constant flight as the kingtisher, 

 and of such exalted height tliat he is often lost to 

 our vision al)ove tlie clouds. Tlie kingflshei' sel- 

 dom rises above tlie treeto})s, tlie lai'k scarcely ever 

 falls below. He is the oracle of high places, and 

 sings from greater altitude tlian any other bird. 

 That very fact Tuay give distinction to him. 



His notes, syllabicated as well as possible in 

 the ^vords tliat of all otliers seem most appropriate. 

 "Spiring o' ye-ar!" is the best-loved bird-song in 

 our counti'v. and tlie more lie slurs it and rings in 

 the half plaintiAC tone that characterizes it. the 

 more it is ap]:)reciated. There is a lark out in the 

 center of this country that greatly siu'passes ours 

 in song, although it ap])ears and acts very similar. 

 The ditf erence in the character of the notes is de- 

 tected instantly by travelers. Tlie bird of the Ne- 

 braska alfalfa fields has the same shuTing modu- 

 lations, but his song is several measures longer. 

 He sings, "Come here! Spring o' ye-ar!" and 



18-2 



