74 



THE VESPER SPARROW. 



In the fields, the pastures and along the missed him. Wilson, I believe, calls him 



roadsides of the Eastern United States the Grass-Finch, and was evidently un- 



and the British Provinces may be found acquainted with his powers of song. The 



the unobtrusive Vesper Sparrow (Poo- two white lateral quills of his tail, and his 



caetes gramineus). It is also known by habit of running and skulking a few yards 



other names such as the Bay-winged in advance of you as you walk through 



Bunting or Sparrow, the Grass-Finch the fields, are sufficient to identify him. 



and sometimes, though incorrectly, it is Not in meadows or orchards, but in high, 



called the Field Sparrow. The latter breezy pasture grounds, will you look for 



name should only be applied to one of the him. His song is most noticeable after 



Chipping Sparrows (Spizella pusilla). sundown, when other birds are silent, for 



The characteristics of the male and the which reason he has been aptly called the 



female are the same. The exposed part Vesper Sparrow. The farmer following 



of the outer and the tip of the second tail his team from the field at dusk catches 



feathers are white. This character is very his sweetest strain. His song is not so 



marked as the bird alights. The feath- brisk and varied as that of the Song-Spar- 



ers of the underside of the body are row, being softer and wilder, sweeter and 



usually yellowish-white and the tops of more plaintive. Add the best parts of 



the wings are a light chestnut-brown. It the lay of the latter to the sweet vibrat- 



does not seem to shun one's presence, but ing chant of the Wood Sparrow (Spizella 



will run along the side of the road, a short pusilla), and you have the evening hymn 



distance ahead, occasionally stopping for of the Vesper-bird the poet of the plain 



observation. unadorned pastures. Go to those broad, 



The Vesper Sparrow builds its nest on smooth, uplying fields, where the cattle 



the ground without reference to any and sheep are grazing, and sit down on 



special plant protection except that of one of the warm, clean stones, and listen 



grass and other low herbage. The eggs to this song. On every side, near and 



are usually four in number, the general remote, from out the short grass which 



color of which is light gray marked, in a the herds are cropping, the strain rises, 



variable manner, by dull reddish-brown Two or three long, silver notes of rest 



spots or blotches. and peace, ending in some subdued trills 



When frightened from her nest the or quavers, constitute each separate song, 

 mother-bird will endeavor to attract the Often you will catch only one or two of 

 attention of the intruder by slowly flying the bars, the breeze having blown the 

 away and occasionally feigning injury by minor part away. Such unambitious, un 

 failing, conscious melody ! It is one of the most 



Mr. John Burroughs, in his little book, characteristic sounds in Nature. The 



"Wake Robin," writes in an admirable grass, the stones, the stubble, the furrow, 



manner of the song and habits of this lit- the quiet herds, and the warm twilight 



tie bird. He says : "Have you heard the among the hills, are all subtly expressed 



song of the Field-Sparrow ? If you have in this song ; this is what they are at least 



lived in a pastoral country, with broad capable of." 

 upland pastures, you could hardly have 



