134 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 
alike; the bright-colored one sang a loud vivacious strain, 
while .the other’s song much resembled that of the 
warbling vireos. Had the one lost his color by age, or, 
by lack of age, had he not yet taken it on? A purple 
finch kept long in confinement will lose his bright plum- 
age and become gray. Last year a pair nested in 
the orchard and often came about the cottage door with 
the chippies. 
The little brown bird mentioned by my host is the 
field sparrow (Spizella pusilla). He sang much of the 
time yesterday from a shade tree in the field near the 
orchard. The song is ecstatic and far-reaching like that 
of the veery. It is oftenest heard in bushy pastures, or 
at the edge of a woods, where it will often surprise 
one with its strange quavering whistle so curiously 
modulated. 
The red-eyed and warbling vireos were singing almost 
unceasingly in the tall maples in front of the house, the 
former generally near the top of the trees, and the lat- 
ter in the lower branches. In the pauses between the 
songs, one knows they are searching the leaves for food. 
They are like the cheerful women, who sweeten their 
household duties with pleasant songs. The warbling 
vireo pleases you with his quiet low songs of inexpres- 
sible sweetness, uttered leisurely, as if but the accom- 
paniment of some pleasant duty. 
With the exception of that of the song sparrow, this 
simple warble is the most cheerful of that of any bird. 
He comes in April or May, and remains until October, 
singing at all times of the day in city and country and 
