1892.
Nov. 14
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.  An Indian summer day, very soft &
warm, hazy, the wind S[outh] to S. E.
  Spent the forenoon in the woods near Goose Pond,
C. accompanying me.
  As we were driving down we saw a flock 
of ten Meadow Larks in the fields just south
of the poor farm. They alighted within 50 yards of the
road and moved about very much like Quail walking
and occasionally talking short, quick runs. The grass
was too short to offer them any concealment
but I noticed that without a single exception
they turned their backs towards us whenever they
stood erect just as the Cuban Lark does, according
to Chapman. Indeed I did not once see the
yellow of the under parts although I watched them
for several minutes during which time most
of them were watching us. After a little I
jumped over the fence and advanced towards
them when they flew, three or four at a time
& removed to the next field. One bird chased
another in play, the two mounting high in air
doubling & twisting, finally pitching down to
the meadow again. Another, evidently an old
male, alighted in the top of an apple tree
and sang steadily for at least five minutes
precisely as in spring, the tender, plaintive
whistle coming at the usual short intervals
and spreading far and wide over the silent
but still green fields. I do not remember
ever hearing a Lark sing thus in autumn before
[margin]Sturnella magna[/margin]