238 



LAND BIRDS 



lessly on the highest twig of the nest bush, he sings to 

 his mate, not to you ; and, the song finished, he disap- 

 pears earthward in the gray-green foliage. 



His nest is either hidden in a low crotch of a bush 

 or on the ground underneath it, and so formed of sage- 

 bark and leaves and dried grasses 

 as to seem a part of its surround- 

 ings. U n le s s the nestlings are 

 hungry and stretch 

 up wide-open bills 

 for food, you will 

 be almost certain to 

 overlook the nest. 

 When on it the 

 mother bird becomes 

 practically invisible, 

 so well does her soft 

 coloring blend with 

 and shadows of the 

 earth and leaves. 



The buds of the sage- 

 brush form at least a 

 part of their diet, but I 

 am inclined to believe that insects -form the larger 

 half. 



Mrs. Bailey says : " The absence of a continuous stripe 

 on the side of the throat is enough to distinguish the 

 Sage Sparrow from the Bell," and " his long black tail 

 and its gently tilting motion are good long-range recog- 

 nition marks." 



the lights 



574 a. Sage Spakrow. 

 " He sings to his mate, not to you." 



