216 THE INVITATION. 



the grossbeaks, and including the buntings, the linnets, 

 the snow-birds, the cross-bills, and the redbirds. 



We have nearly or quite a dozen varieties of the 

 sparrow in the Atlantic States, but perhaps no more 

 than half that number would be discriminated by the 

 unprofessional observer. The song-sparrow, which 

 every child knows, comes first, at least his voice is first 

 heard. And can there be anything more fresh and 

 pleasing than this first simple strain heard from the 

 garden fence or a near hedge, on some bright, still 

 March morning ? 



The field or vesper-sparrow, called also grass-finch, 

 and bay-winged sparrow, a bird slightly larger than the 

 song-sparrow and of a lighter gray color, is abundant 

 in all our upland fields and pastures, and is a very 

 sweet songster. It builds upon the ground, without 

 the slightest cover or protection, and also roosts there. 

 Walking through the fields at dusk I frequently start 

 them up almost beneath my feet. When disturbed by 

 day they fly with a quick, sharp movement, showing 

 two white quills in the tail. The traveller along the 

 country roads disturbs them earthing their wings in the 

 soft dry earth, or sees them skulking and flitting along 

 the fences in front of him. They run in the furrow in 

 advance of the team, or perch upon the stones a few 

 rods off. They sing much after sundown, hence the 

 aptness of the name vesper-sparrow, which a recent 

 writer, Wilson Flagg, has bestowed upon them. 



In the meadows and low wet lands the Savannah 



