238 THE INVITATION. 



we have, in New York, the wood-thrush, the hermit- 

 thrush, the veery, or Wilson's thrush, the olive-backed 

 thrush, and, transiently, one or two other species not 

 Bo clearly defined. 



The wood-thrush and the hermit stand at the head 

 as songsters, no two persons, perhaps, agreeing as to 

 which is the superior. 



Under the general head of finches, Audubon de 

 scribes over sixty different birds, ranging from th 

 sparrows to the grossbeaks, and including the bunt- 

 ings, the linnets, the snow-birds, the cross-bills, and 

 the red-birds. 



We have nearly or quite a dozen varieties of the 

 sparrow in the Atlantic States, but perhaps no more 

 than half that number would be discriminated by the 

 unprofessional observer. The song-sparrow, which 

 every child knows, comes first; at least, his voice is 

 first heard. And can there be anything more fresh 

 and pleasing than this first simple strain heard from 

 the garden fence or a near hedge, on some bright, 

 still March morning ? 



The field or vesper-sparrow, called also grass-finch, 

 and bay-winged sparrow, a bird slightly larger than 

 the song-sparrow and of a lighter gray color, is abun- 

 dant in all our upland fields and pastures, and is a 

 rery sweet songster. It builds upon the ground, 

 without the slightest cover or protection, and also 

 roosts there. Walking through the fields at dusk 

 I frequently start them up almost beneath my feet. 

 When disturbed by day they fly with a quick, sharji 



