io8 



THE WESTERN VESPER SPARROW. 



tlian the succeeding notes. The song of the western Jjird has noticeal)ly greater 

 variety tlian that of the eastern. Not only is it less stereot\-ped in the matter of 

 pitch and duration, but in quality and cadence it soinetimes shows surprising 

 differences. One heard in Chelan County would have passed for Brewer's 

 on a frolic, except for the preliminary "Iwc-lio's" : Hccoo hccoo Iiccoo 



zvii::.':iwu::;::m'ii::ci n'ccchcc wcccncc. And mdeed it would 

 not be surprising if he had learned from Spi::clla brcivcri. who is a constant 

 neighbor and a safe guide in matters of sage lore. The scolding note, a 

 thrasher-lil<e kissing sound, tsook, will sometimes interrupt a song if the 

 strange listener gets too close. Early morning and late evening are the 

 regular song periods; but the conscientious and indefatigable singer is more 

 apt than most to interrupt the noontide stillness also. 



Since this species is a bird of open country and uplands, it cares little for 

 the \'icinitv of w^ater ; but it loves the dust of country roads as dearly as an old 

 hen, and the daily dust-bath is a familiar sight to every traveler. While 

 seeking its food of weed-seeds and insects, it runs busily about upon the 

 ground, skulking and running oftener than llitting for safety. Altho not 



especially timid it 

 seems tO' take a sort 

 O'f professional pride 

 in being able to slip 

 about among the 

 weed stems unseen. 

 It is, of course, at 

 nesting time that the 

 sneak-ability of the 

 Ijird is most severely 

 tested. The nest, a 

 s i m p 1 e affair of 

 coiled grasses, is 

 usually s u n k, or 

 cliambered in the 

 ground, so' that its 

 brim comes flush 

 with the surface. 

 For the rest, the 

 brooding bird seldom seeks any other protection than that of "luck," and her 

 own ability to elude observation when obliged to quit the nest. Her behavior 

 at this time depends largely upon the amount of disturbance to which she is 

 subjected. At first approach of danger she is inclined to stick to her post till 

 the last possible moment, and then she falls lame as she flutters ofY. But if 

 often frightened, she shrewdly learns to rise at a considerable distance. 



Taken in Doui^lus L\'inily. ri-.c^t.' by I lu- .1 



THE ENEMY. 



THE RATTLESNAKE IS THE SCOURGE OF ALL GROUND-NESTING BIRDS. 



