io6 THE WESTERN VESPER SPARROW. 



currespijnds ruiighly with the nurtliern extension of tlie Upper Sunoran zone, 

 witli overflow into the adjacent Arid Transitinn. .Vltho ].)rairie liirds, thev 

 are fond of scattered trees, fences, telegraph poles, or anything which will 

 afford sufficient elevation for the sweet sacrament of song. 



This bird, more frequently than others, is found singing in the middle of 

 the very hottest days in summer, and at such times his tremulous notes come 

 to the ear like the gurgling of sweet waters. But Ridgway's description has 

 not been surpassed -.^ "This song is composed of a series of chan.ts, each 

 syllable rich, loud, and clear, interspersed with emotional trills. At the 

 beginning the song reminds one somewhat of that of the Indigo- Bird ( Pas- 

 seriiia cvaiica), but the notes are louder and more metallic, and their deli\'ery 

 more vigorous. Tho seemingly hurried, it is one continued gush of sprightly 

 music; now gay, now melodious, and then tender beyond description, — the 

 very expression of emotion. At intervals the singer falters, as if exhausted by 

 exertion, and his voice becomes scarcely audible; but suddenlv reviving in his 

 jov, it is resumed in all its vigor, until he appears to be reallv overcome by 

 the effort." 



These gentle birds are evidently profiting somewhat l>y the human occu- 

 pation of the soil, and adapt themselves readily to changed conditions. They 

 are reported as breeding in the valley of the Willamette in Oregon, but we 

 have no records of their occurrence in Washington west of the Cascades. 



No. 39. 



WESTERN VESPER SPARROW. 



A. O. U. No. 540a. Pooecetes gramineus confinis Baird. 



Synonyms. — Western Grass Finch. Bay-winged Bunting. 



Description. — ^Idnlts: General tone of upperparts slaty or grayish brown 

 on the edges of the feathers, modified by the dusky centers, and warmed by deli- 

 cate traces of rufous, bend of wing bay, concealing dusky centers ; wings and 

 tail fuscous with pale tawny or whitish edgings, — outer tail-feathers principally 

 or entirely white, the next two pairs white, or not, in varying amount ; below 

 sordid white, sharply streaked on breast, flanks, and sides with dusky brown ; 

 the chin and throat with small arrow marks of the same color and bounded by 

 chains of streaks; auriculars clear hair-brown, with buft'y or lighter center; 

 usually a buffy sulTusion on streaked area of breast and sides. Length of adult 

 male: 5.75-6.25 ( 146.1-158.8) ; wing 3.29 (83.6) ; tail 2.59 (65.8) ; bill .44 (11.2) ; 

 tarsus .85 (21.6). Female a little smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size ; general streaked appearance ; white 

 lateral tail-feathers conspicuous in flight ; frequents fields and the open sage. 



Nesting. — Nest: on ground, usually in depression, neatly lined with grasses, 



"Birds of Illinois," Vol. I., p. 263. 



