The worst of it is that little or no protection is given the poor birds in the warm countries where they spend the winter.
Thrushes are shot for pot-pie, all the gayly colored birds are killed for their feathers, and flocks of doves are slain to see how many a man can hit in a day! "Olaf says the Meadowlarks are raising their second brood now and he can find you some empty nests, if you go with him, so you can see how they are made; he will show you the Redwings' nests, too.

You boys may take off your shoes and stockings; and Miss Dodo, being a girl, shall ride on Olaf's shoulder." "Please, can't I have my shoes off too ?" begged Dodo.
"I love to wade like the boys!" "By and by, on the beach; but what if a frog or an eel should touch your foot, or a sharp straw stick in it--are you enough of a boy not to scream ?" Dodo was not sure, and thought she would begin by riding.
The Meadowlark Length ten to eleven inches.
Upper parts marked with brown, bay, gray, and black; head striped, with a yellow spot in front of the eye; wing-feathers nearest the body, and most of the tail-feathers, scalloped with black and gray, but the outside tail-feathers white.
Under parts nearly all yellow, with a black crescent on the breast, but further back flaxen-brown, with dark stripes.
Bill stout where it runs up on the forehead, but tapering to the point.
A Citizen of the United States and Canada.
A good and useful neighbor.

A famous member of the guild of Ground Gleaners, its chief work being to kill bad insects which eat the grass-roots in pastures and hay-fields.
A beautiful bird and charming songster..