238 LAND BIRDS 
lessly on the highest twig of the nest bush, he sings to 
his mate, not to you; and, the song finished, he disap- 
pears earthward in the gray-green foliage. 
His nest is either hidden in a low crotch of a bush 
or on the ground underneath it, and so formed of sage- 
bark and leaves and dried grasses 
as to seem a part of its surround- 
ings. Unless the nestlings are 
hunery and stretch 
up wide-open bills 
for food, you will 
be almost certain to 
overlook the nest. 
When on it the 
mother bird becomes 
practically invisible, 
so well does her soft 
. coloring blend with 
| the lights and shadows of the 
3'\ earth and leaves. 
The buds of the sage- 
brush form at least a 
part of their diet, but I 
am inclined to believe that insects form the larger 
half. 
Mrs. Bailey says: “ The absence of a continuous stripe 
on the side of the throat is enough to distinguish the 
Sage Sparrow from the Bell,” and “his long black tail 
574a. SAGE SPARROW. 
‘¢ He sings to his mate, not to you.” 
and its gently tilting motion are good long-range recog- 
nition marks.” 
a ies 
