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 



