A TRIBE OF WEED WARRIOnS 221 



itself ; but though it is thus supported on all sides it 

 is as nicely woven as if it were a tree nest." 



"It isn't a very pretty bird," said Dodo. " Does it 

 sing well ? Why is it called the Vesper Sparrow — 

 what does Vesper mean, Uncle Roy ? " 



'' Vesper means evening. This plainly clothed little 

 bird has a beautiful voice, and sings in the morning 

 chorus Avith his brothers ; but he is fond of continuing 

 his song late into the twilight, after most others have 

 gone to bed. Then in the stillness his voice sounds 

 sweet and clear, and the words of the song are : 

 'Che wee, chewee, chewee lira, lira, lira lee.' That is 

 the way he says his evening prayers : you know that 

 in some of the churches there is a beautiful service 

 called Vespers. Ah, if we only knew bird language ! " 



"Do you remember," said Olive, "last night when 

 you were going to bed you asked me if it wasn't a very 

 rare bird that was singing so late down in the garden, 

 and I told you that it Avas a SparroAV ? It was the 

 Vesper Bird, perhaps the very one who is over there in 

 the bushes, Avondering if the giant House People Avill 

 find his nest. You can easily tell him Avhen he flits in 

 front of you by the roadside, because he always sIioaas 

 tAvo white feathers, one on each side of his tail." 



The Vesper Sparrow 



Length six inches. 



Upper parts bro^Yn, streaked with dusky ; some bright bay on 

 the wings, but no A^ellow anywliere, and two white tail-feathers. 



Under parts dull Avhite, striped on breast and sides with brown. 



A Citizen of Xorth America from Canada southward, nesting- 

 north of the Middle States. 



A regular member of the guild of Weed Warriors, and in sum- 

 mer belonging also to the Seed Sowers and Ground Gleaners. 



