THE WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW. 



"3 



Migrations. — Spriiuj: Alxnit April ist: Bremerton March 23, 1906. 

 Authorities. — Passcrciilus alauilinus Boiiap. Baird, Rep. I'ae. 1\. R. Snrv. 

 IX. 1858. 447. iT). C&S. L'. Rh. Ra. Kk. J. L\. E. 

 Specimens. — I', of W. P'. IVov. B. 



XOT e\erv l)ird can he a hcauly any more than every soldier can he a 

 colonel ; and when we consider that ten times as many shot-guns are in 

 commission in time of jieace as rifles in time of war, wc cannot blame a hird 

 for rejoicing in the \irlue <if humility, envying neither the epaulets of 

 General Blackbird nor even the pale che\rons of Sergeant Siskin. A Savanna 



Sparrow, especially the 

 washed-out western va- 

 riety, is a mere de- 

 tachetl bit of brown 

 earth done u]) in dried 

 grasses : a feathered 

 commonplace \v h i c h 

 the landscape will swal- 

 low up the instant you 

 take eyes ofY it. To be 

 sure, if you can get it 

 quite alone and trry 

 near, you sec enough to 

 admire in the twelve- 

 radiating pattern of the 

 head, and you may 

 e\'en percei\c a wan 

 tint of yellow in the 

 superciliary reginu : biU 

 let the birclliug dmp 

 u])()n the ground and 

 sit motionless amidst 

 the grass, or in a criss- 

 cross litter of weed-stalks, and sooner far will you catch the gleam of the 

 needle in the havstack. 



Savannas are birds of the meadows, whether fresh or ?alt, and wherever 

 well-watered grasses and weeds alxnmd, there they may be looked for. Din- 

 ing migration, indeed, they may appear in most unexpected places. I saw- 

 one last year, at P>remerton. which haunted the vicinity of a tiny cemented 

 poufl in the center of a well-kept lawn. This Ijird hopped about coyly, peer- 

 ing liehind blades of grass, and affecting a dainty fright at the sight of water, 

 verv nuich as a C'hip])ing Sparrow might have done. In their nesting 



WESTKR.V S.WANNA SP.XRROW. 



