NEAR VIEWS OF WILD LIFE 



called the road-runner, from its habit of running 

 along the road ahead when one is driving or walk- 

 ing—a very different bird, however, from the road- 

 runner of the Western States. The vesper is 

 larger than the song sparrow, of a lighter gray and 

 russet, and does not frequent our gardens and 

 orchards as does the latter. In color it suggests 

 the European skylark; the two lateral white 

 quills in its tail enhance this impression. One 

 season a stray skylark, probably from Long Island 

 or some other place where larks had been liberated, 

 appeared in a broad, low meadow near me, and not 

 finding his own kind paid court to a female vesper 

 sparrow. He pursued her diligently and no doubt 

 pestered her dreadfully. She fled from him pre- 

 ciptately and seemed much embarrassed by the 

 attentions of the distinguished-looking foreigner. 



When the young of any species appear, the solici- 

 tude and watchfulness of the mother bird are 

 greatly increased. Although my near neighbor the 

 vesper sparrow in front of my door has had proof of 

 my harmless character now for several weeks and, 

 one would think, must know that her precious secret 

 is safe with me, yet, when she comes with food in 

 her beak while I am at my desk ten or eleven yards 

 away, she maneuvers around for a minute or two, 

 flying up to the telephone wire or a few yards up 

 or down the road, and finally approaches the nest 

 with much hesitation and suspicion, lest I see her 



83 



