The Meadow Lark. 



253 



damp, undrained meadows, and woods bordering on rivers. After 

 the breeding season, these birds gather together preparatory to 

 their departure, and travel in small flocks. Their call note at 

 this time is ''Bis, bis," which they utter vociferously, and in 

 a shrill tone. They build their nests, on the ground, in 

 swamps, meadows, or plantations by the side of a river. The 

 hen lays four or five eggs, of a pale purplish brown colour, 

 blotched and spotted with reddish purple ; she incubates 

 fourteen days, and the young leave the nest when about three 

 weeks old. These birds are not so plentiful in this country 

 as Titlarks. 



Methods of Capture. —Meadow Larks may be caught with 

 the day or night net ; with a decoy and limed twigs ; or by clear- 

 ing a piece of ground, on a marshy place, where they frequent, 

 baiting it with mealworms, and setting limed twigs. 



Food and Treatment. — The Meadow Lark feeds principally 

 on aquatic insects, ants, small beetles, and a few kinds of small 

 seeds. It is rather difficult to keep in health in confinement, 

 unless constantly supplied with insect food, or the best sub- 

 stitutes. It may be fed the same as the Titlark. These 

 birds rarely live more than four years in a cage. 



Bearing the Young. — The young of this variety may be 

 reared in the same manner, and with the same food, as the 

 young of Titlarks, Skylarks, or Woodlarks. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cook and Hen. — The hen is 

 slightly smaller in size than the cock, and paler in the various 

 colours of her plumage ; in other respects the difference 

 between them is not striking. The male bird, as is the 

 case with all species of Larks, is bolder, and smarter looking 

 than the hen, walking and bearing himself more majestically, 

 and having a commanding and dignified carriage. 



Song. — This bird possesses a more powerful and more 

 refined song than the Titlark, but it is of much shorter 

 duration than that of either the Skylark or Woodlark. 

 Nevertheless, it is sweet, clear, lively, and mellifluous ; it is 

 fuller of variation and modulation, and better executed, than 

 that of the Titlark, and also more continuous. This bird will 

 sing in a tree, but sings best during short flights in the air. 

 It never ascends high, and sings best when descending, ex- 

 panding its wings, and fluttering energetically all the time, 

 until it alights on the ground. 



