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COMMON BIRDS : SECOND SERIES. 
Bay-winged Buntings or Vesper Sparrow* 26. 
[POCECETES GRAMINEUS.] 
The Bay-winged Bunting is very generally confounded with the 
Song Sparrow, and both species are known to the farmers as Ground 
Sparrows. The Bay-wing, however, differs from its cousin not only 
in appearance and in general behavior, but also in its choice of 
a habitat. Instead of the bushy borders of wet places or the 
shrubbery along highways, in which the Song Sparrows delight, the 
Bay-wing haunts the pasture land, the mowings, and the edges of 
ploughed fields. It feeds much in the short grass, when disturbed 
runs and squats alternately, and when finally forced to rise, rarely 
disappears into shrubbery like its shyer cousin. It is less nervous, 
not jerking its tail so constantly. The two outer tail feathers are 
white, and serve to distinguish the Bay-wing, if they are clearly 
seen. They are not, however, as bright or conspicuous as the 
white V in the Snowbird’s tail. The Bay-wing reaches New Eng¬ 
land early in April, and remains late in fall, often well into October. 
The winter quarters of the species are in the Southern States. 
The nest is placed on the ground, generally in short grass, and is 
lined with fine roots and grass. Four or five eggs are laid, every¬ 
where spotted and marked with reddish brown. The song of the 
Bay-wing is to the ears of a beginner extremely like that of the 
Song Sparrow, but careful observation soon teaches one to distin¬ 
guish between the two. The Bay-wing begins his song with two 
low, very sweet notes, and ends it with a succession of runs, so that 
the performance is not only longer than the Song Sparrow’s but 
sweeter and more thoughtful. The names Grass Finch and Vesper 
Sparrow, often given to the Bay-wing, refer to its fondness for grass 
land and for singing at dusk. 
Chewink, or Towhee Bunting. 21. 
[PIPILO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS.] 
About the end of April, the Chewink returns to the dry hill¬ 
sides and clearings, and scratches among the leaves for insects or 
