THE WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW. 



113 



Migrations. — S[>yiiiij: Abuut April ist; Bremerton March 23, 1906. 

 Authorities. — Passcrculus alaiidinus Boiiap. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. 

 IX. 1858, 447. (T). C&S. L'. Rh. Ra. Kk. J. B. E. 

 Specimens. — U. of W. P'. Prov. B. 



NOT every bird can be a Ijeauty any more than every soldier can be a 

 colonel ; and when we consider that ten times as manv shot-gnns are in 

 commission in time of peace as rifles m time of war, we cannot blame a bird 

 for rejoicing in the virtne of hnmility, envying neither the epaulets of 

 General Blackbird nor even the pale chevrons of Sergeant Siskin. A Savanna 



Sparrow, especially the 

 washed-otit western va- 

 riety, is a mere de- 

 tached bit of brown 

 earth done up in dried 

 grasses ; a feathered 

 commonplace w h i c h 

 the landscape will swal- 

 lo'W up the instant you 

 take eyes off it. To be 

 sure, if you can get it 

 quite alone and z'cr\< 

 near, you see enough to 

 admire in the twelve- 

 rafliating pattern of the 

 head, and you may 

 even perceive a wan 

 tint of yellow in the 

 superciliary region ; but 

 let the birdling drop 

 upon the ground and 

 sit motionless amidst 



WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW. ,, 



the grass, or ni a criss- 

 cross litter of weed-stalks, and sooner far will you catch the gleam of the 

 needle in the haystack. 



Sa\-annas are birds of the meadows, whether fresh or salt, and wherever 

 well-watered grasses and weeds abound, there they may be looked for. Dur- 

 ing migration, indeed, thev mav appear in most unexpected places. I saw 

 one last year, at Bremerton, which haunted the vicinity of a tiny cemented 

 pond in the center of a well-kept lawn. This bird hopped about coyly, peer- 

 ing behind blades of grass, and affecting a dainty fright at the sight of water, 

 very much as a Chipping Sparrow might have done. In their nesting 



