238 LARK SPAREOW 



tail. In other places this Sparrow is known as 

 the ' Road Bird,' from its habit of running along 

 roadsides and feeding in roads. 



Doctor Wheaton gives an interesting instance 

 of a Lark Sparrow's appealing to him for help. 

 Flying ahead of Mm, the bird led him to a garter 

 snake, circling around it several times as if point- 

 ing it out. When the snake had been killed, the 

 bird " perched upon a fence stake and filled the 

 air with its grateful notes." But, alas, after giv- 

 ing thanks, the poor Sparrow discovered that un- 

 wittingly the doctor had thrown the dead snake 

 almost on to the nest. In vain it tugged and 

 dragged at the body till again its friend came to 

 its assistance, when, the snake being tossed out of 

 sight, it once more burst out into grateful song. 



The nest of the Lark Sparrow is a deep, root- 

 woven structure like those of many Ground Spar- 

 rows, often sunk in a little hollow on the ground, 

 but sometimes placed in bushes or even trees. 



The eggs are dingy white, marked, like Orioles' 

 eggs, with irregular lines. 



