1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 77 



in an almond tree in his yard, did not differ greatly in appearance from nests of 

 our other goldfinches, but the eggs were perfectly white in color, a feature that 

 at once distinguishes them from the pale blue eggs of the two other species 

 of Astra galinns occurring in Fresno County. The habits of this gray-plumaged 

 and black-throated finch apparently do not differ greatly from those of other 

 members of this genus. 



English Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linnaeus). 



Gladly would we ignore this invader from a foreign land, but the fact of its 

 presence cannot be overlooked. It should be the cause of no little alarm, since 

 these sparrows are becoming well established in the country, after having literally 

 taken possession of the city. During the gloomy winter days the little flocks that 

 feed so confidently about our yards in town often endear themselves to us, but 

 the following spring, when we look in vain for the native birds that should nest 

 with us, our opinion of the English Sparrow is frequently much altered. Only 

 the Mockingbird seems to be able to maintain his place within the city, while the 

 linnet, goldfinches, and orioles have decreased in numbers as breeding birds. I 

 have yet to learn of anything commendable in regard to the English Sparrow, 

 while its habit of crowding out our own feathered friends is sufficient to con- 

 demn it. 



We;ste;rn Vesper Sparrow. Pooecetes gramineus confinis Baird. 



The Vesper Sparrow is one of the several varieties of small, inconspicuous, 

 brown sparrows that remain throughout the winter. The earliest date upon 

 which I have observed this species in the fall was September 12 (1903), and ar- 

 rivals should be confidently looked for by the twentieth of that month ordinarily. 

 They have been known to remain as late as April 7 (1911), but as a rule nearly 

 all have disappeared by the last day of March. 



Like most of the ground-feeding sparrows, this bird must be highly beneficial 

 as it eats quantities of weed seeds of various kinds. 



Often, in March, I have observed one of these sparrows perched on a clod 

 and pouring forth its pleasing song, or engaging in short animated flights, the 

 white outer tail feathers serving to identify the species at some distance. Their 

 song resembles the vocal efforts of a Western Lark Sparrow, perhaps, more than 

 anything else, yet it lacks the rich fullness of the song of the latter, and seems 

 to have less of finished quality. Weedy, waste fields and pastures are this bird's 

 favorite haunts, but it is not strictly terrestrial, and is often seen upon a low bush 

 or fruit tree, if one is aft"orded near its feeding ground. 



This part of the state is probably visited by both the western subspecies of 

 the Vesper Sparrow, confinis and affinis, but the Oregon Vesper Sparrow seems 

 not to have been detected here as yet. 



Western Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus Bona- 

 parte. 



As one tramps around through tall dry grass along ditches and fences, 

 through alfalfa fields and along the borders of vineyards, this little sparrow 

 often flushes from almost under the very feet of the intruder; and we have 

 just a glimpse of the plain, brownish colored little bird as it rapidly zig-zags 



