The Western Meadowlark 



Nor is the effort of the Western Meadowlark con- 

 fined to the formal song, for he often pours out a flood 

 of warbling, chattering and gurgling notes which, at 

 close range, are very attractive. Not infrequently he 

 will interrupt one of these meditative rhapsodies with 

 the clarion call, and return immediately to his minor 

 theme. 



In the presence of a stranger the lark serves fre- 

 quent notice of intended departure in a vigorous toop, 

 or toob, accompanying the sound with an emphatic 

 flirt of the wings and jerk of the tail. Now and then 

 the actual departure is accompanied by a beautiful 

 yodelling song. After several preliminary toobs the 

 bird launches himself with fantastic exaggeration of 

 effort and rolls out, O'ly o'ly o'ly o'ly o'ly, with ravish- 

 ing sweetness. 



At nesting time the parent birds have many 

 causes for apprehension, and as they move about in 

 search of food they give vent to the toob note of dis- 

 trust in a fashion which soon becomes chronic. For 

 one who studies the Western Meadowlark in several 

 States, great interest attaches to the provincialisms 

 of speech which characterize each locality. It is probable that this toob 

 note of disgust, being more simple and primitive, will afford a better basis 

 for local comparison than the more complex song. At any rate, it is more 

 stereotyped and inflexible. Thus, on Santa Cruz Island, the toob note, 

 while typical as to form, has a peculiarly "ancient" and plaintive quality. 

 Elsewhere on the mainland one hears teuk or tew(r)k, very sharp and pene- 

 trating. In eastern Washington, again, this note has become doubled, 

 too' bit or too' whit, and I think I have caught the same inflection in the 

 highlands east of our Sierras. 



At nesting time the Western Meadowlark enjoys a wide distribution 

 in California. It is found, alike, at sea level, upon the cattail islands, 

 over the grass-covered hills of the cattle country, in all cultivated sections, 

 in the grassy openings of the northwestern forests, and over the stretches 

 of the northeastern plateau. On the eastern slopes of the Sierras, the 

 birds occur irregularly up to the lower levels of pine timber, and once, 

 June 23, 1911, I found them at an altitude of 11,000 feet on Cottonwood 

 Creek, in Inyo County. 



The Meadowlark is an assiduous nester. This not because of any 

 unusual amativeness, but because young Meadowlarks are the morceaux 



Taken in Kings County 

 Photo by the Author 



OH, JOY! 



