SPARROWS AND FINCHES 41 



the Song Sparrow. The light breast and sides 

 are streaked with dark brown, with no blotch 

 in the center. The outer tail feathers are white 

 and show plainly when the bird springs up in 

 front of you. This is the best held mark by 

 which to identify the Grass-finch, or Baywinged 

 Bunting, as it is less commonly called. The 

 nest is similar to that of his cousin in material 

 and location. The eggs are light, thickly spotted 

 with brown. They come in early April, range in 

 summer as far north as the St. Lawrence River 

 and winter south of Virginia. It is about the 

 same size as the Song Sparrow, slightly more 

 than six inches in length. 



Field Sparrow. The name of this sweet 

 singer seems a misnomer, for I find him as a 

 dweller in the bush-grown pastures and along 

 the edge of the woods where the cedars grow, 

 rather than in cultivated fields. He is shy and 

 retiring, so that one needs a little patience to 

 make intimate acquaintance with him. As you 

 approach him, lured by his attractive strain, 

 he retreats from bush to bush and will lead you 

 some distance, striving to keep out of sight. 

 The best method to adopt is to sit quietly near 

 his nest and await his approach. 



The Field Sparrow is gentle in his ways and 

 attractive in dress, but as a singer you will most 

 admire him. The song is clear, plaintive, sweet, 

 "beginning with three soft, wild whistles and 

 ending in a series of trills and quavers that 

 slowly melt away into silence; a serene and rest- 

 ful strain, as soothing as a hymn." (Blanchari.) 



In color this Sparrow shows more of the red- 



