VESPER SPARROW. 321 
the fence of some elevated pasture-field, in the cool of the 
summer evening, when other songsters have retired to rest, the 
Grass Sparrow, more than usually wakeful, after a silence which 
has perhaps continued nearly through the warmer part of the 
day, pipes forth his clear and slender, though now almost mo- 
notonous song, near to the favorite spot where his mate hatches 
or fosters her tender brood; and from all the neighboring 
meadows, at this silent hour, as the last rays of the sun are re- 
flected from the dusky horizon, we hear a constant repetition 
of an echoing and shrill ah ’¢sh ’tsheé te tshéte tshéte, with warb- 
ling tones blended and varied, at the beginning and close of 
this simple, rather pensive, but agreeable ditty. They are 
more common in fields than thickets, and run along the ground 
in the manner of the Lark. They likewise frequent ploughing 
fields, searching on the ground for insects, and are very fond 
of dusting themselves and basking in dry places. 
Being nearly sedentary, they raise probably several broods 
in the season. Sometimes when started from the nest, the 
female simulates lameness with remarkable dexterity, so as 
very readily to draw off the attention of her enemies or in- 
truders. The young are easily raised from the nest, and 
become very tame, clean, and domestic, but readily quarrel 
with each other. 
The “ Bay-winged Bunting ” of earlier writers was named “ Ves- 
per Sparrow” by Wilson Flagg, from its habit of singing during 
‘the early evening. It breeds from Virginia and Kentucky to Mani- 
toba and the Maritime Provinces, and is one of the most abundant 
Sparrows in New England and Ontario. 
VOL. I. — 21 
