VESPER SPAKJIOW. 37 



color, spotted, blotched, and lined with black, brown, and um- 

 ber. The lines are irregular in form, and are always present, 

 but the number varies from one or two to several. These, 

 and the ashy white color will serve to distinguish the eggs of 

 this species from all others. Dimensions, .76 by .58. 



General Habits. The Vesper Sparrows are among the 

 earliest arrivals from the south, often being found by the mid- 

 dle of March, when the snow still lingers in the valleys and 

 woodlands. They scatter all over New England, breeding 

 in grassy fields, but are particularly fond of pastures or fields 

 in which grain has been cut the previous year, and the female 

 will frequently build her nest there, often choosing an open spot 

 which is quite destitute of herbage, evidently, trusting to her 

 color, which is quite like that of the surrounding dried earth 

 for concealment. When disturbed, the female runs from the 

 nest, spreads her wings and feigns lameness. I have frequently 

 seen dogs and even children, completely deceived by this ruse 

 and instead of looking for the nest give chase, while the 

 bird, after succeeding in inducing them to fjllow her for 

 some distance from the nest, would rise and fly away. 



The first litter of eggs is deposited early in May and a sec- 

 ond is laid late in June. In autumn, the birds congregate with 

 other Sparrows in weedy fields, and although a greater portion 

 pass south of our limits, some stragglers remain with us all 

 winter, even as far north as Massachusetts. 



Song. The lay of the Vesper Sparrow is quite pleasing 

 and is given as the bird perches in some elevated situation. 

 It begins with a warbling chant and ends with a few detatched 

 notes. 



