note, and keeping up the pursuit for a distance of several hundred yards,
when it suddenly abandons it. Both birds then rejoin the flock, and the
party continue their journey in amity. When flocks thus travelling spy
a favourable feeding place, they gradually descend and alight on some
detached tree, when, as if by one accord, each individual jerks out its
tail, springs on its legs, and utters a loud soft call-note. They then fly
successively to the ground, and immediately proceed in search of food.
An old male now and then erects itself, glances its eye around with anxious
scrutiny, and should danger be perceived, does not fail to inform his
party by emitting a loud rolling note, on hearing which the rest of the
flock become alert, and hold themselves in readiness to depart.
In this manner the Meadow Larks proceed in autumn from the northern
parts of Maine to the State of Louisiana, the Floridas, or Carolinas,
where they abound during the winter. At this season the pine barrens of
the Floridas are filled with them, and after the land has been fired by the
native herdsmen, these birds become as sooty as the sparrows residing in
London. Some were so infested with ticks as to have lost almost all the
feathers off their body, and in general they appeared much smaller than
those of the Atlantic States, probably on account of the deficiency of their
plumage. In the prairies of the Opellousas and those bordering on the
Arkansas River, they are still more abundant. Many of these, however,
retire into the Mexican country at the approach of very severe weather.
They now sleep on the ground among the tall grass, but at a distance of
many yards from each other, in the manner of the Carolina Dove.
At the approach of spring, the flocks break up, the females first separating.
The males then commence their migration, flying in small flocks,
or even sometimes singly. At this season the beauty of their plumage is
much improved, their movements have acquired more grace, their manner
of flight and all their motions when on the ground evidently shewing how
strongly they feel the passion that glows in their bosom. The male is
seen to walk with stately measured steps, jerking out his tail, or spreading
it to its full extent, and then closing it, like a fan in the hands of
some fair damsel. Its loud notes are more melodious than ever, and are
now frequently heard, the bird sitting the while on the branch of a tree,
or the top of some tall weed of the meadows.
Woe to the rival who dares to make his appearance ! Nay, should
any male come in sight, he is at once attacked, and, if conquered, chased
beyond the limits of the territory claimed by the first possessor. Several
MEADOW LARK. 219
males may sometimes be seen engaged in fierce conflict, although these
frays seldom last more than a few moments. The sight of a single female
at once changes their occupation, and after her they all fly off as if mad.
The female exhibits the usual timidity of her sex, that timidity without
which, even in Meadow Larks, she would probably fail in finding a mate.
As he flies towards her, uttering the softest of his notes, she moves off in
such a manner that her ardent admirer often seems doubtful whether she
means to repel or encourage him. At length, however, he is permitted to
go nearer, to express by his song and courteous demeanour the strength
and constancy of his passion. She accepts him as her lord, and in a few
days both are seen busily searching for an appropriate spot in which to
rear their young.
At the foot of some tuft of tall strong grass you find the nest. A cavity
is scooped out of the ground, and in it is placed a quantity of grass,
fibrous roots, and other materials, circularly disposed so as to resemble an
oven, around which leaves and the blades of the surrounding grasses are
matted together so as to cover and conceal it. The entrance admits only
one at a time, but both birds incubate. The eggs are four or five, pure
white, sprinkled and blotched with reddish-brown, mostly towards the
larger end. The young are out towards the end of June, and follow their
parents for some weeks afterwards. These birds are unremitting in their
attention towards each other, and in the care of their offspring, and while
the female sits, the male not only supplies her with food, but constantly
comforts her by his song and the watchfulness which he displays. Should
one approach the nest, he immediately rises on wing, passes and repasses
in circles over and around the spot in which the nest is, and thus frequently
leads to the hidden treasure.
Excepting hawks and snakes, the Meadow Lark has few enemies at
this season. The prudent and enlightened farmer, mindful of the benefit
his meadows have received from the destruction of thousands of larv;e,
which might have greatly injured his grass, disturbs it not, and should he
find its nest while cutting his hay, he leaves the tuft in which it is placed.
Even young children seldom destroy this bird or its brood.
It must not, however, be supposed that the Meadow Lark is entirely
harmless. In the Carolinas, many well instructed planters agree in denouncing
it as a depredator, alleging that it scratches up oat seeds when
sown early in spring, and is fond of plucking up the young corn, the
wheat, the rye, or the rice.