Outlines for Scout Workers

THE MEADOWLARK

Outlines for Scout Workers

BY DELBERT W. PARRATT, B. S.

VI. THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK

Silent we sat in solemn awe,

Watching the great sun rise.When clear and sweet from a nearby haw

A meadowlark sang to the skies.The air was a-throb with his thrilling lay,—"It's here! It's here! The beautiful day."—Ethel Jarvis.

1. Why is the meadowlark so named? Is it a lark? If not, what isit? What other birds belong to this family?

2. Note size, shape, and color.

3. Contrast male and female in size and color. Why these dif-ferences?

4. Upon what does the meadowlark feed? In what way do thefeet and bill indicate this?

5. Is this bird a high and fast flyer? What is there about thebody and wings that shows this?

6. Name some enemies nf the meadowlark and tell how the birdprotects itself from them.

OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 215

7. Describe the makeup of the nest and tell where it is usuallybuilt. Why built there?

8. Tell of the number, color, markings, and size of eggs. Sug-gest enemies of the eggs and explain how the enemies are warded off.

9. Which bird sings, the male or female? Why? Suggest thecharacteristics of the songs.

10. Should we protect the meadowlark? Give two reasons foryour answer.

11. How many broods are usually hatched in a season? Howshould this effect the care bestowed upon the bird?

12. There are four kinds of meadowlarks. What are they? Whereis each found? Which is ours?

13. Where does ours spend the winter?

HANDY MATERIAL

"The cheerless remnant of the snowdrift liesAlong the fields, and there are wintry skiesWhose chilling blasts assail the Meadowlark.I know not how you find subsistence here,Among the withered herbs of yester-year:I grieve for your uncertain days—but hark!I hear your brave note calling, loud and clear."

—Edward R. Ford

The meadowlark is not a lark, but is one of the starlings and,therefore, belongs to the same family as do the blackbird, oriole,and bobolink. From a geographical standpoint, there are four dif-ferent meadowlarks, the Eastern, Southern, Rio Grande, andWestern. The one so familiar to us is the Western meadowlark.

In general it is about the size of a robin, being eight to teninches from tip of bill to end of tail. The bill is over oneinch long and the tail comparatively short for the size of the body.

Its back is dark brown with black and white stripes and spots ;its breast is yellow, and its throat orange. There is a V-shapedbib on its chest and black spots on its sides.

True to prevailing-bird society customs, the female meadow-lark exercises the privilege of selecting her mate. At the time sheis so engaged, the various males striving for her desired atten-tions dress in their most attractive feathers and entertain with theirdelightful winning songs. The fellow most nearly befitting thelady bird's sense of beauty and of song is the one who wins theday, while his competitors are compelled to dress parade and singbefore some other.modest female still open for engagements. Nowonder, then, in the light of this, the male is the more attractivein both color and song.

In their struggle for recognitions from the female, the malebirds often "come to blows" and in such encounters the largerbird stands the better chance of becoming victorious. Consider-ing this and also the fact that after becoming mated, the male as-sumes protector to and defender of the female and baby birds,

216 IMPROVEMENT ERA

we readily sec a decided advantage in favor of the male beingsomewhat larger than the female.

Cutworms, wireworms (beetle larvae), grasshoppers, weevil,and crickets serve as the meadowlark's principal food. Aboutseventy-five per cent of its diet is of such, about ten per cent weed-seeds, and about fifteen per cent grain, which is chiefly waste graintaken during the winter.

This bird flies at no great elevation or speed. It usually formsa semicircle before alighting, always at some distance from thenest.

Cats, dogs, skunks, minks, weasels, snakes, and ignorantfarmers and thoughtless men and boys, are this useful singer'sdreaded enemies.

The nest is of long dry grass and weed skins (sometimeshorsehair) concealed at the base of and under a leaning tuft ofgrass.

The eggs are white with brown or purple spots and run fromthree to six to the setting. Sometimes there are two broodshatched in a season.

The meadowlark is rather tame and lives in meadows and onfoot hills, not far from human habitations. It remains with usall winter and begins its song in February or March. He singsin two octaves with several variations. He also makes a squirrel-like chirping sound. His is said to be among the most beautifulof all bird songs.

The city ordinances and state laws relating to flippers, guns,and the like are ample to protect the meadowlark if but properlyobserved. However, a splendid improvement of late is noted inthe observance of these regulations.

don't kill the birds

Don't kill the birds, the pretty birds,

That sing about your door,Soon as the joyous spring has come,

And chilling storms are o'er.The little birds, how sweet they sing!

Oh! let them joyous live;And never seek to take the life

That you can never give.

Don't kill the birds, the pretty birds,

That play among the trees;'Twould make the earth a cheerless place.

Should we dispense with these.The little birds, how fond they play!

Do not disturb their sport;But let them warble forth their songs,

Till winter cuts them short.

OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 217

Don't kill the birds, the happy birds,

That bless the fields and grove;So innocent to look upon,

They claim our warmest love.The happy birds, the tuneful birds,

How pleasant 'tis to see!No'spot can be a cheerless place

Where'er their presence be.—Colesworthy.

Reverence in Worship

BY AUBREY PARKER

Saints of the Most High, his chosen people, are called upon to"fear God and worship Him who made the heavens and the earth,and the fountains of water."

To worship him—what does this imply? To worship is toadore, to reverence, to honor, and to praise. Above all others,we do worship God "in truth,"—inasmuch as we know him asour Father, who has body, parts, and passions, even as we have.But let us always remember that to worship God "in truth" is notenough, but that, also, we must worship him "in spirit."

"Let reverence in us dwell," especially when we approach "theTable of our Lord." When again we are about to covenant withour Master, let us think upon his sacrifice, and remember that wehave come apart, for awhile to forget the world with its frets andworries, for

"The world is too much with us,

Late and soon,In getting and spending, we lay waste our powers."

There should be no lack of reverence shown in our worship.We should seek to forget our worldly interests and worries whilstat worship. "For to be carnally minded is death," (in the marginit reads—"mindful of the flesh"), "but to be spiritually minded islife." Are not the forgetful and the irreverent too material-minded ?

I would much rather worship in sacred silence, which is assweet waters unto my soul, than worship where I hear much talk-ing which does not proceed from the stand. But I go to partakeof the sacrament, and to hear good counsel which does not fail me.Every soul should seek to combine all good in the worship of ourGod. Our ward meeting houses are places "set apart" for prayerand praise. There is a time and place for laughter and for tears.I plead for reverence in our worship; for "they who worship himmust worship him in spirit and in truth."

SHELLEY, IDAHO