MEADOW LARK 



21 



It is probable that, in the more rigorous regions of the north 

 they may be birds of passage, as they are partially so here; tho I 

 have seen them among the meadows of New-Jersey, and those that 

 border the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, in all seasons ; even when 

 the ground was deeply covered with snow. There is scarcely a mar- 

 ket day in Philadelphia from September to March, but they may be 

 found in market. They are generally considered, for size and deli- 

 cacy, little inferior to the quail, or what is here usually called the 

 partridge, and valued accordingly. 1 once met with a few of these 

 birds in the month of February, during a deep snow, among the 

 heights of the Alleghany between Shippensburgh and Sommerset, 

 gleaning on the road, in company with the small snow-birds. In 

 the state of South Carolina and Georgia, at the same season of the 

 year, they swarm among the rice plantations, running about the 

 yards and out-houses, accompanied by the Killdeers, with little ap- 

 pearance of fear, as if quite domesticated. 



These birds, after the building season is over, collect in flocks ; 

 but seldom fly in a close compact body; their flight is something 

 in the manner of the grous and partridge, laborious and steady ; 

 sailing, and renewing the rapid action of the wings alternately. 

 When they alight on trees or bushes, it is generally on the tops of 

 the highest branches, whence they send forth a long, clear, and 

 somewhat melancholy note, that in sweetness and tenderness of ex- 

 pression is not surpassed by any of our numerous warblers. This 

 is sometimes followed by a kind of low, rapid chattering, the par- 

 ticular call of the female; and again the clear and plaintive strain 

 is repeated as before. They afford tolerable good amusement to 

 the sportsman, being most easily shot while on wing; as they fre- 

 quently squat among the long grass, and spring within gunshot. 

 The nest of this species is built generally in, or below, a thick tuft 

 or tussock of grass ; it is composed of dry grass, and fine bent laid 

 at bottom, and wound all around, leaving an arched entrance 

 level with the ground ; the inside is lined with fine stalks of the 



VOL. III. F 



