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MEADOW LARK. 



{Sturnella Magna.) 

 A beautiful singer is this bird. They come in early 

 spring, and mounted high in the bright blue sky, they 

 warble forth their clear sweet music so welcome to us. 

 Sometimes mounting the highest twig of an evergreen 

 they sing for a long time; no doubt but that they feel 

 their high position. In appearance they have long 

 legs which enable them to run with ease. Their back 

 is brownish, streaked with white about the wings. The 

 breast is of a rich yellow, the bill long and pointed. 

 As their name indicates they live in meadows and 

 swamps. They make their nest in bunches of grass. 

 The nest is closed all over except a place in the top for 

 an entrance. The eggs, from four to six, are white, 

 spotted with dull brown, and roundish. 



ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



{Ictervs Spurius) 

 A gay little fellow is this bird; most of the body is 

 black the rest orange red. They are small but are 

 possessed of a beautiful song. They are among the 

 earlier visitors, and may constantly be seen search- 

 ing among the blossoms of the fruit trees for insects, 

 at the same time filling the air with their clear notes. 

 They are mostly found in orchards or collections of 

 trees, where they can find an abundant supply of food. 

 The nest is quite architectural, being suspended be- 

 tween two branches or a fork of a limb. It is several 

 inches deep and the materials are woven together with 

 great skill and industry. The eggs, four or five, are 

 white, streaked with black as if by a pen. 



