108 THE WESTERN VESPER SPARROW. 
than the succeeding notes. The song of the western bird has noticeably greater 
variety than that of the eastern. Not only is it less stereotyped in the matter of 
pitch and duration, but in quality and cadence it sometimes shows surprising 
differences. One heard in Chelan County would have passed for Brewer’s 
on a frolic, except for the preliminary “hee-ho’s”: Heéoo heéoo heéoo 
bussiwussiwusst F : : : : 
wussiwugziwusst weechee weechee. And indeed it would 
not be surprising if he had learned from Spizella breweri, who is a constant 
neighbor and a safe guide in matters of sage lore. The scolding note, a 
thrasher-like kissing sound, tsook, will sometimes interrupt a song if the 
strange listener gets too close. Early morning and late evening are the 
regular song periods; but the conscientious and indefatigable singer is more 
apt than most to interrupt the noontide stillness also. 
Since this species is a bird of open country and uplands, it cares little for 
the vicinity of water; but it loves the dust of country roads as dearly as an old 
hen, and the daily dust-bath is a familiar sight to every traveler. While 
seeking its food of weed-seeds and insects, it runs busily about upon the 
ground, skulking and running oftener than flitting for safety. Altho not 
especially timid it 
seems to take a sort 
of professional pride 
in being able to slip 
about among the 
weed stems unseen. 
It is, of course, at 
nesting time that the 
sneak-ability of the 
bird is most severely 
tested. The nest, a 
simple affair of 
coiled grasses, is 
usually sunk, or 
chambered in the 
ground, so that its 
Photo by the author: _DUIMM ‘Comes. tinsit 
THE ENEMY. with the — surface. 
THE RATTLESNAKE IS THE SCOURGE OF ALI, GROUND-NESTING BIRDS. For the rest, the 
brooding bird seldom seeks any other protection than that of “luck,” and her 
own ability to elude observation when obliged to quit the nest. Her behavior 
at this time depends largely upon the amount of disturbance to which she is 
subjected. At first approach of danger she is inclined to stick to her post till 
the last possible moment, and then she falls lame as she flutters off. But if 
often frightened, she shrewdly learns to rise at a considerable distance. 
Taken in Douglas County. 
