MEADOW LARK. 
175 
north, they may be birds of passage, as they are 
™tuilly so here ; thoug-h 1 have seen them among the 
^Sadon-s of New Jersey, and those that border the 
Delaware and Schuylkill, in all seasons ; even 
l“t“n the ground wits deeply covered with snow. 
is searcelj' a market day iu Philadelphia, from 
^I'teniber to M.areh, but they may be found in market, 
are generally considered, for size and delicacy, 
inferior to the fjuail, or what is here usually called 
I'f partridge, and valued accordingly. I once met n itli 
‘•iw of these birds in the month of P’ebruary, during- 
'^eep snow, among the heights of the Alleghany, 
(l®*"ee,i Shij)pensburgh and Somerset, gleaning on 
n *' •’oad, iu company « ith the small snow-birds. In 
Estate of South Carolina and Georgia, .at the same 
?^on of the year, tlu-y swann among the rice planta- 
running about the yards and out-houses, accom- 
"■Jicd by the'’killdeers, with little appear-ance of fear, 
^ <luitc domesticated. 
I hhese birds, after the building season is over, collect 
t| J'o< ks ; but seldom fly iu a close compact body ; 
flight is something in the manner of the grouse 
partridge, laborious and steady, sailing, and renew- 
yi? the rapid action of the wings alternately. When 
'ffl alight on trees or bushes, it is generally on the tops 
Ul highest branches, whence they semi forth a long, 
and somewhat melancholy note, that, in su cetness 
fif tenderness of expression, is not surj)aBsed by any 
L *'ar numei-ous narblers. I his is sometimes followed 
Of It hind of low, rapid chattering, the partimilar call 
the female; and again tlie clear and plaintive strain 
H,.'‘«peated as before. Tliey aft'ord tolerably good 
il.?!'J*«mcnt to the si)ortsman, being most easily shot 
C' ® the wing ; as they freiiuently sipiat among the 
tl,-^ Srass, and spring within gunshot. The nest of 
Of “Peeies is built generally in, or below, a thick tuft, 
jiu^tssock of grass; it is composed of dry grass, and 
*'ent laid at bottom, and wound all around, lee'-;...- 
.if'ehed 
level with tlie ground ; the inside 
j h '-.'eu entrance 
tUed with line stalks of the same materials, disposed 
