84 THE MEADOW LARK. 



informs me that in suitable localities it breeds southward, 

 even to Virginia and North Carolina. May not the damp 

 coolness of the swamp retain northern birds during the 

 breeding season as well as do the mountain ranges? 



The Snow-bird winters from Southern New England 

 southward to the Gulf States. In the Rocky Mountains and 

 to the westward it is replaced by closely-allied species or 

 varieties. 



THE MEADOW LARK. 



It is ten o'clock in the forenoon. A strong south wind springs 

 up, and the sky, so clear and sunny an hour ago, is covered 

 with dense, gray clouds. I am strolling along the telegraph 

 road by an old stone fence, when a pair of Meadow Larks 

 (Sturnella magna) light on the fence a few rods from me, 

 scarcely able to stand up against the wind. They are occa- 

 sionally seen here throughout the winter. 



For the most part, however, this is a migratory bird, 

 entering the Middle States, New England, and correspond- 

 ing latitudes about the second week in March, and going 

 south in flocks with the later migrations to spend the 

 winter in the Southern States. Here, according to Wilson, 

 at this time of year, " they swarm among the rice planta- 

 tions, running about the yards and out-houses, accompanied 

 by the Killdeers, with little appearance of fear, as if quite 

 domesticated." 



In the wet, chilly days of March we are forcibly reminded 

 that spring is here by the clear, sweet, but plaintive warble, 

 which comes in soft, whistling tones from meadow and 

 pasture, wee-tsee-tsee-ree-ee, tsee-ree-tsee-ree-ee. The strange 

 flight, too, consisting of a few tremulous, vibrating strokes 

 of the wings, succeeded by a short sailing, clearly distin- 

 guishes the Meadow Lark. What strange impulse is it 

 which starts this bird thus early northward to buffet 



