All About The Meadow Lark
Usually resident--sometimes goes south in late October, returning in
April.
Song--a very beautiful sweet, clear whistle--heard in the early spring
and in the autumn--usually quite silent during brooding season.
Female much paler in colour than male. General colour brown streaked
with brown and black and cream--breast and throat yellow--conspicuous
black crescent on breast--brown streak on h
the eyes--tail feathers edged with white, which is seen most plainly
when bird is in flight.
Food--seeds, insects, larval insects, also swallows gravel to aid in
digestion.
Nest made of grasses--built on the ground amid tall grass or
grain--usually quite skilfully hidden and arched or roofed over in a
very ingenious way.
Eggs--four in number--about an inch and an eighth in length, a pure
white, speckled with brown.
Greatest danger from snakes and field-mice.
Meadow lark is not really a lark, but belongs to the blackbird family.
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A Good-night
"Haw-haw! Hoo! hoo!" Phyllis listened again. "Haw-haw! Hoo! hoo! Hoo! Hoo!" "Oh, I see you now!" laughed Phyllis. The owl moved silently as a shadow and perched very near to the little girl. His great round eyes and his yellow bill gl... A Legend Of The Northland
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Comes north about first or second week in April. Remains until late September or October--builds and travels in flocks or companies--winters in South or Central America. Song--a constant twitter. Head and upper parts except forehead steel blue... All About The Barred Or Hoot Owl
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Comes north in early March--remains until December, often throughout the year. Song--harsh, discordant, laughing chuckle or rattle--never musical. Upper parts blue--wings and tail with white markings--lower parts white with two blue bands acros... All About The Meadow Lark
Usually resident--sometimes goes south in late October, returning in April. Song--a very beautiful sweet, clear whistle--heard in the early spring and in the autumn--usually quite silent during brooding season. Female much paler in colour than ... All About The Raven
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Goes far north in nesting season. Found in Illinois swamps, and as far north as Greenland. Small bird with entire upper parts almost black--under parts white--wings tipped with white, bill black--feet pale red--toes webbed. Food obtained f... All About The Woodpecker
Comes north in May--often stays all winter--most commonly seen in the fall. Song--shrill, lively call resembling the voice of the tree-frog. Male and female have crimson head and neck--upper parts black with white marking--white band across win... Chilly Little Chickadees
Chilly little chickadees, Sitting in a row, Chilly little chickadees, Buried in the snow, Don't you find it very cold For your little feet? Don't you find it hard to get Anything to eat? Hungry little chickadees, Would yo... How The Birds Got Their Feathers Iroquois Myth
That evening, as the family sat beside the hearth, Phyllis thought of the brave little chickadees out in the fir-trees. "I wonder if they are really warm enough," she said. "Do feathers make a warm dress, mother? Why do birds have feathers inste... Origin Of The Raven And The Macaw Zuni Creation Myth
Long, long ago there were but few Indians on the earth. The world was not as it is now. The earth people did not understand things as they now understand them. It therefore happened that a beautiful Indian prince came to live with the earth peo... Robert Of Lincoln
Merrily swinging on brier and weed, Near to the nest of his little dame, Over the mountainside or mead, Robert of Lincoln is telling his name. "Bobolink, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Snug and safe is that nest o... Robin Redbreast Merry Robin Redbreast
"Robin, robin redbreast, Singing on the bough, Come and get your breakfast, We will feed you now. Robin likes the golden grain, Nods his head and sings again: 'Chirping, chirping cheerily, Here I come so merrily, Thank... Sea-pigeons
It was very early in the spring. The sun rose, stayed for only a moment above the horizon, and then sank again from the sight of Eskimo children. But already huge icebergs broke from the shore and floated out to sea. Already the icy winds hurrie... The Bobolink A Summer Song
He sat upon the tallest bending grass stalk. He paid not the slightest attention to Phyllis. He just swung lightly with the June breezes, and sang his little heart out. Such a careless, joyous, jingling song Phyllis had never before heard. It s... The Chickadee Or Snowbird In The Snow
It was a bright, wintry day. The frost jewels sparkled on the snow. The winds blew cutting cold from the north. Phyllis, in her scarlet coat and cap, and long, warm leggings, waded in the deepest drifts she could find. Out by the garden fence ... The Circling Of Cranes
One autumn day ages and ages ago, the cranes were preparing to go south. Cranes always dreaded the cold and flew away to the summer-land at the first glitter of the frost. The crane leader had a loud, hoarse voice, and he called and called to hi... The First Hawk
During the short Greenland summer the Eskimos live along the seacoast. They put up their strange skin huts and hunt and fish and make merry through the season when the sun shines at midnight. Now in places along the Greenland coast there are steep... The Halcyon Birds
That evening Phyllis opened a new book and on almost the first page she saw something about the halcyon birds. "Perhaps it is Jack's story," she said. Then she curled herself up on the soft sofa and this is the story she read. In the beautiful... The Hawk And The Raven From The Barnyard Fence
Had not the old hen been such a watchful mother she would never have been able to care for such a big, fluffy family. Had not Phyllis been such a wide-awake little girl, she would have never heard and seen all that I am about to tell you. Mothe... The Kingfisheror Halcyon Bird With The Water Watchman
"Please, Jack," begged Phyllis. "Girls always talk," replied Jack. "I will not say a word to you--indeed I will not." "Well, if you spoil my fishing--" began Jack. "And I'll pick thimbleberries for our lunch," said Phyllis, eagerly. So i... The Lark In The Meadow
If Jack's big black dog, Nero, had not chanced to snatch Phyllis's rag doll by the head and run away with it this story would have never been written. You see, Nero bounded straight across the meadow and Phyllis, fearing that she would lose the d... The Owl
When cats run home, and light is come And dew is cold upon the ground, And the far-off stream is dumb, And the whirring sail goes round, And the whirring sail goes round, Alone and warming his five wits The white owl in the be... The Owl
When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And Tom bears logs into the hall, And milk comes frozen home in pail; When blood is nipped and ways be foul, Then nightly sings the staring owl, "Tu-who!...