238 THE INVITATION. 



we have, in New York, the wood-thrush, the hermit- 

 thrush, the veery, or Wilson's thrush, the olive-backed 

 thrush, and, transiently, one or two other species not 

 BO clearly defined. 



The wood-thrush and the hermit stand at the head 

 as songsters, no two persons, perhaps, agreeing as to 

 which is the superior. 



Under the general head of finches, Audubon de- 

 scribes over sixty different birds, ranging from the 

 sparrows to the grossbeaks, and including the bunt- 

 ings, the linnets, the snow-birds, the cross-bills, and 

 the red-birds. 



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 abun- 

 dant 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 



