The Western Meadowlark 



tend five babies, 

 each in a sepa- 

 rate thicket in a 

 trackless forest, 

 and that haunt- 

 ed by cougars, 

 and lynxes, and 

 boa-constric- 

 tors and things? 

 We cannot 

 afford to be in- 

 different specta- 

 tors to this early 

 struggle for ex- 

 istence, for it is 

 difficult to over- 

 estimate the 

 economic value 

 of the Meadow- 

 lark. The 

 Meadowlark is 

 by preference 

 an insect-eating 

 bird ; but in the 

 fall, when in- 

 sects are scarce, 

 it turns to weed- 

 seed and fallen 

 grain for suste- 

 nance. Later, 

 when the fall- 

 sown grains be- 

 gin to sprout 

 and send up the 

 first tender 

 blade, the birds 

 sometimes in- 

 vade the fields and delve, quite cleverly, for the hidden treasure. Sprouting 

 oats are a clear favorite, and experts estimate that this, together with a little 

 wheat and barley, may sometimes amount to as much as one per cent of 

 the bird's total annual fare! Of course that's naughty. But to persecute 

 and destroy the Meadowlark on that account alone would be as silly and 



Taken in San Luis Obispo County 



NEST AND EGGS OF WESTERN 



Photo by the Author 

 MEADOWLARK, IN YARROW 



134 



