THE LIVING WORLD. 
34i 
on his back ; and in this manner they carried off the whole brood before the 
mowers had reached their nest.” This is not a solitary instance, as I am ac¬ 
quainted with one more example of this ingenious mode of shifting the young, 
when the parent birds feared that their nest was discovered, and carried the brood 
into some standing wheat. Mr. Yarrell, moreover, mentions that the lark has 
been seen in the act of carrying away her young in her claws, but not on her 
back, as ‘in the previous instance. Perhaps the bird would learn the art of 
carriage by experience, for the poor little bird was dropped from the claws of its 
parent, and falling from a height of nearly thirty feet, was killed by the shock. 
It was a bird some eight or ten days old. The lark has also been known to 
carry away its eggs when threatened by danger, grasping them with both feet. 
Many other stories are related illustrative of the lark’s intuition, if not reason¬ 
ing powers, one of which has passed into the fable as “ the lark and the mower.” 
This fable, however, is no doubt based upon fact, sine? the bird has actually 
been known to remove her young during the time that the cradlers were at work 
mowing the field in which she had her nest of fledglings. I recall to mind 
the experience of a gentleman in my native town which he related to me 
many years ago, substantially as follows: “During the early part of June while 
passing through a field of ripening grain only a short distance from my 
country residence, I observed a lark as she swept over my head with a worm 
in her beak, and dropped down into the wheat some yards away. Seeing the 
worm in the bird’s mouth led me to believe that she had a nest of young 
where she settled, so out of curiosity I went to the place to discover if my 
suppositions were correct. As I drew very near the spot the old bird fluttered 
away as if badly injured, and as I did not immediately pursue her she turned 
upon her side, opened her mouth and began panting as a wounded bird in¬ 
variably does. As I started again towards her she held one wing rigid while 
with the other she continued to flutter apparently in deep distress from a 
serious injury. Perceiving that she was trying to lead me away I returned 
and found the nest in which there were five young birds not more than four 
or five days old. Having heard much concerning the maternal affections of 
the lark I determined now to test it. Accordingly I took up the young and 
carrying them to a straw stack quite near my house, made a nest and deposited 
the brood therein; I then drew off to watch results, being careful to hide with¬ 
in a stable and watch through the cracks. In a short time the mother-bird 
came to her young and in another moment flew away again. I11 about fifteen 
minutes she returned, however, bringing her mate, and the two then proceeded 
to remove their brood by each taking one at a time upon the back and carry¬ 
ing them to another part of the field, where a new nest was evidently made 
for them. I followed after the birds, after the removal was completed, and 
found, as I had expected, an improved nest, which I did not again dis¬ 
turb.” 
The Meadow Lark (Sturnella magna ), and the Shore Lark {Eremophila 
alpestris) are the two prominent species of American birds of the lark family, being 
found distributed throughout the United States from Texas to Labrador. The 
nesting habits of the several spe.cies are nearly identical, building on the ground, 
usually under a tuft of grass affording perfect concealment. The number of eggs is 
usually four, though sometimes five are laid, and the young are affectionately 
cared for by both parents until fully fledged and with full strength of wing. The 
