CONCORD 
1892 
November 14 
Sturnell a 
magna 
(Meadow 
Lark) 
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 taking short, 
quick runs. The grass was too short to afford them any con¬ 
cealment 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, and removed to the next 
field. One bird chased another in play, the two mounting- 
high in air doubling and twisting, finally pitching down to 
the meadows again. Another, evidently an old male, alighted 
in the top of an apple tree and sang steadily for at least 
give 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. 
