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Range (Eastern North America breeds) (XIV)

Eastern North America; breeds from the Gulf to New Brunswick and Minnesota; winters from Massachusetts and Illinois southward. Washington, common P. R., less common in winter. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R., Feb. 20 to Nov. 27; a few winter. Cambridge, common S. R., not common W. V.

Nest, of grasses, frequently arched, on the ground. Eggs, four to six, white, spotted or speckled with cinnamon or reddish brown, 1.15 x 80. In walking through grassy fields, meadows, or marshes, we sometimes flush rather large, brownish birds, which, alternately flapping and sailing, scale away with a flight that suggests a Quail's. Their white outer tail-feathers show conspicuously, and if, instead of returning to the ground, they alight on a fence or the outer branch of a tree, as they utter a nasal peent, they will nervously flit their tails, displaying the same white feathers. When in an exposed position they are wary and difficult to approach, but when walking about on the ground they trust to the long grasses for protection, and sometimes do not take wing until one is within a few feet of them.

In Cuba I noticed that a Meadowlark, closely related to ours, was very careful to conceal its brightly colored breast, with its distinctly marked crescent, and, although even perching birds were not shy, they BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. would invariably turn their backs upon me as I drew near. Do our Meadowlarks practice the same impolite habit?

The Meadowlark's song is a clear, plaintive whistle of unusual sweetness. It is subject to much variation, both individually and geographically. The birds near my home at Englewood, N. J., generally sing: But the songs of Florida birds are so different, I hardly recognized them by their notes.

In the fall, Meadowlarks at the north gather in flocks and resort to large marshes. 501a. S. m. neglecta (Aud.). WESTERN MEADOWLARK; PRAIRIE