August 
birds and in his thievish propensities, the jay is 
a general nuisance, and with the exception of 
his fine plumage, the purpose of his creation is 
quite as mysterious as that of some human in- 
dividuals. 
To turn to a humbler but more satisfying 
species, there is no bird that gathers into 
melody the reposeful sentiment of quiet coun- 
try life at evening, when Nature seems in a 
sabbatic mood, like the little vesper sparrow or 
bay-winged bunting, chanting a most refreshing 
cadence in the cool of the day, to banish the 
memory of its heat and burden. It has a char- 
acterless, threadbare sort of garb, the conven- 
tional sparrow-suit, but is quite readily distin- 
guished from its kindred by the pure white 
outer tail-feathers prominently displayed as it 
flies along a little in advance of the traveller 
through open fields and country roads. There 
is something in its tone that links it with the 
sprightly song sparrow, but how different the 
mood, and the effect upon the listener! The 
song sparrow so cheery and ecstatic, the vesper 
sparrow so serene and pastoral, and its tone so 
pure, the last phrase of its simple melody with 
such a luscious, oily smoothness and delicacy ; 
perhaps pensive, but not at all shadowed by sad- 
243 
