36 THE O. & O. SEMI-ANNUAL. 
know, it is a difficult task to reach the nest when it is placed far out 
on the extremity of a large branch. I will endeavor to explain my 
method of collecting these and other nests similarly placed. I have, 
for such occasions, two pieces of very stout twine, with a hook at- 
tached to one end of each piece. I toss out the hooks in such a 
manner that they catch the limb about two-thirds of the distance to 
the nest. Then I tie the other ends of the strings to a branch far- 
ther up the tree. 
By so doing the limb will not droop or fall while being cut off and 
drawn in. However, it must be done with much care, as some 
branches are heavier on one side. These must be gripped tightly 
with the hand in order to prevent the heavy side from sagging or rol- 
ling over and emptying the nest. 
THE WESTERN YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. 
Coturniculus Passerinus Perpallidus. 
BY J. A. SINGLEY, GIDDINGS, TEXAS. 
The typical Yellow-winged Sparrow is described as follows : ““Above 
singularly variegated with black, gray, yellowish-brown and purplish- 
bay. Edge of wing yellow. Below, ochraceous or pale buff or tawny, 
faking to whitish on belly. Length, 4.80-5.25 : extent, 8.00 to 8.50.” 
To the casual observer, it is simply one of the obscure little brown 
sparrows. C. p. perpallidus, the form found here, has been separated 
as a sub-species on account of its much paler, gray coloration. The 
difference is hard to describe ; but if passerinus and perpallidus are 
laid side by side it is easily appreciated. The Western Grasshopper 
Sparrow is resident, and during the winter it frequents the timbered — 
upland portions of the county and can also be found in fields where 
the fall growth of grass has been luxuriant, affording them a good 
covert, and the seeds supplying them with food. With the advent of 
spring, the Sparrow moves to the prairie and can then be seen swing- 
ing on the weed-stems and uttering his long drawn out “tweet,”’ his 
only note, which resembles the chirping of a cricket. 
The nest is a simple affair. A slight depression in the ground is 
chosen, generally at the foot of a thistle or other weed, and a frail 
nest, entirely of dead grass, is built, slightly overarched with grass if 
not protected from the sun by the weed. The usual complement of - 
eggs is five. Sets of four are common and occasionally six eggs are 
laid. ‘The eggs vary much in size and shape, and are pure white with 
markings of red-brown, and occasionally lilac shell markings. The | 
spots often run together, forming a wreath at the larger end. Average ~ 
.73x.60. But one brood is raised, fresh eggs being found only in May. 
