Field Sparrows 



83 



feather stage. Once, when I picked it up, its cries attracted the attention of a 

 female Cowbird, which appeared much disturbed. Having palmed her family 

 cares off on some other small bird, she apparently nevertheless felt a general 

 interest in the young of her species. 



On the third day after discovering the nest, as I was focusing on the young 

 birds perched on a stick, the image of one of the old birds appeared on the 

 screen, and thereafter they showed little concern at my presence, even when 



THE FIELD SPARROW'S HOME— BOTH PARENTS AT THE NEST. 

 YOUNG ABOUT EIGHT DAYS OLD 



I stood within arm's reach. Green caterpillars were brought in abundance, 

 also spiders, grasshoppers, etc., mostly obtained on the ground. Both parents 

 were kept very busy with four of their own young and a foster Cowbird (which 

 required double portions) to be cared for. The Sparrows fall and winter diet 

 of seeds is varied in the spring and summer by one mainly of insects, and the 

 young are apparently raised entirely on the latter. 



During the busy period of raising their young, the Field Sparrows have no 

 time for singing, but they, together with many other of the Sparrow family, 

 voice their buoyant spirits well into the fall, and even in November we may 

 hear their slightly tremulous farewell songs. 



