BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 309 



POOr^TES GRAMINEUS (Gmelin). (540.) 

 VESPER SPARROW. 



So common is this species that from the time of its arrival 

 until its departure it will be seen almost anywhere one may go 

 along the highways where there are fences or frills of low 

 bushes. In driving from my residence in the city to ray cot- 

 tage on Lake Minnetonka, a distance of fifteen miles, I have 

 seen over one hundred and fifty males in the time of incubation 

 when the females were confined to their nests. 



I think other similar highways would show relatively as 

 great a number. 



This species has greatly increased witii the settling up of 

 the country, as is the case with many others, the productions 

 of agriculture affording so much more abundant food. Its 

 habit of running considerable distances in front of the horse 

 one is driving, and when forced to wing flits a short distance 

 and again lights in the dusty road, is one that will compel its 

 recognition as no other of its family does. 



It uniformly arrives at this place about April 20th; in Fill- 

 more county and westward into Pipestone, about ten days 

 earlier It may be well to note here that the thermal lines 

 deflect much more northward after entering the southern por- 

 tion of the State, a fact rather indefinitely evident in the 

 migration of some species of birds, as well as the records of the 

 signal service; and a bold line about one degree south of Min- 

 neapolis, is evident to any observing person in travelling by 

 rail in that direction. It takes about fiv^e to ten days for the 

 van of bird-migration to ride over this thermal barrier. In a 

 close correspondence with several gentlemen residing in the 

 southern tier of counties, who are interested in the study of 

 the habits of birds, I have found this fact to be assured. 

 Strange as it may seem, with less positive proof, there seems 

 to be another similar line at a little greater distance north of 

 this city where all is reversed again, so that I am now sur- 

 prised to find migrants of the spring in Grant, or even Otter 

 Tail counties as early as here. The nest of this species does 

 not very materially differ from that of Savanna except in being 

 concealed less than that more cautious species, and not quite 

 so select materials used. The eggs, four or five in number, 

 are a dull white thickly spattered with reddish -brown and 

 lilac, but they vary considerably m the intensity of coloration. 



