134 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 



alike ; the bright-colored one sang a loud vivacious strain, 

 while the other's song much resembled that of the 

 warbling vireos. Had the one lost his color by age, or, 

 by lack of age, had he not yet taken it on ? A purple 

 finch kept long in confinement will lose his bright plum- 

 age and become gray. Last year a pair nested in 

 the orchard and often came about the cottage door with 

 the chippies. 



The little brown bird mentioned by my host is the 

 field sparrow {Spizella pitsilla). He sang much of the 

 time yesterday from a shade tree in the field near the 

 orchard, The song is ecstatic and far-reaching like that 

 of the veery. It is oftenest heard in bushy pastures, or 

 at the edge of a woods, where it will often surprise 

 one with its strange quavering whistle so curiously 

 modulated. 



The red-eyed and warbling vireos were singing almost 

 unceasingly in the tall maples in front of the house, the 

 former generally near the top of the trees, and the lat- 

 ter in the lower branches. In the pauses between the 

 songs, one knows they are searching the leaves for food. 

 The}^ are like the cheerful women, who s\veeten their 

 household duties with pleasant songs. The warbling 

 vireo pleases you w^ith his quiet low songs of inexpres- 

 sible sweetness, uttered leisurely, as if but the accom- 

 paniment of some pleasant duty. 



With the exception of that of the song sparrow, this 

 simple warble is the most cheerful of that of any bird. 

 He comes in April or May, and remains until October, 

 singing at all times of the day in city and country and 



