16 BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



No. 7. BriUiant. 



Note. — The notes marked guttural seem to me to be performed by a 

 rapid trilling of these notes with their octave. No bird sings constantly 

 in so regular time as is represented above, and the intervals between the 

 high notes are very irregular. Both the time and the tune are in great 

 measure ad libitum. 



THE VESPER-SPARROW. 



Soon after the arrival of the Song-Sparrow, before the 

 flowers are yet conspicuous in the' meadows, we are 

 greeted by the more fervent and lengthened notes of the 

 Vesper-Bird, poured forth witli a peculiarly pensive mod- 

 ulation. This species resembles the Song-Sparrow, but 

 may be distinguished when on the wing by two white 

 lateral feathers in the tail. The chirp, or complaining 

 note, of the Song-Sparrow is louder and pitched on a 

 lower key. The Vesper- Bird is the less familiar of the 

 two, and, when both are singing at the same time, will 

 be seen to occupy a position more remote from the house. 

 In several places they are distinguished by the names of 

 Ground-Sparrow and Bush-Sparrow, from their supposed 

 different habits of placing their nests, i believe, how- 

 ever, that while the Song-Sparrow always buQds upon the 

 ground, the Vesper-Bird builds indifferently upon the 

 ground or in a bush. 



The Vesper-Bird, of the two species, attracts more 

 general attention to his notes, because he sings a longer 

 though more monotonous song, and warbles with more 

 fervency. His notes resemble those of the Canary, but 

 they are more subdued and plaintive, and have a reedy 

 sound which is not perceptible in the Canary's tones. 



