302 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



times as early as the latter part of March, but usually delays 

 its coming until April. It frecjuents bush}^ pastures and 

 worn-out fields, or dry, sandy sprout lands. On its first 

 appearance it seeks the shelter afforded by a wooded or bushy 



southerly slope, and for- 

 ages from the underbrush 

 out into the fields. 



The song of the Field 

 SparroAV is one of the 

 sweetest sounds in na- 

 ture. It is a fine, clear 

 strain, opening with a 

 few modulated notes, and 

 ending in a pensive di- 

 minuendo trill, as clear as 

 the sound of a bell. It 

 is a characteristic sound 

 of the dry upland, when 

 the still, warm June day 

 sleeps upon the hills, and 

 shimmering heat waves 

 rise from the warm turf. 

 The bird has also a series 

 of Sparrow-like chirps 

 and twitters, but nothing 

 to compare with its song, which, though varied, is usuallv 

 the same in character in all parts of ^lassachusetts. Dr. 

 J. A. Allen says that the song of the males in Florida is 

 very different from that of the northern birds. 



The Field Sparrow is generally shyer than the Song Spar- 

 row or the Chipping Sparrow, and is usuall}^ found more 

 away from the farm luiildings, and in the oi)en field, pastures, 

 or " scrub." It quite often alights on trees to sing or feed. 

 I have found it feeding on cankerworms, tent caterpillars, 

 and the caterpillars of the brown-tail moth. It is therefore 

 of some value in woodland and orchard. It is seldom seen in 

 the garden exce})t when ripe weeds are to be found ; but it is 

 more often found in cornfields and potato fields, and Gentry 

 says that it eats cabbage worms. It is useful in the fields, 



Fig. 133. 



Fk'ld Sparrow, oue-balf natural 

 size. 



