Oregon Vesper Sparrow in Alameda County
Oregon Vesper Sparrow in Alameda Co.
On the afternoon of October 8, 1898 while coming over the foot-hills northeast of OakIand, I shot an Oregon Vesper Sparrow, Poocaetes grarnineus afinis. It was an adult male; one from a flock of five that were feeding among some tall grass, growing between two stubblefields. The flock was so hidden in the tall grass, that I saw none except my bird until I fired, when the rest flew up, and were soon lost over the crest of a hill. So far as I have been able to learn, this is the first Oregon Vesper Sparrow taken in Alameda County, although two weeks later, on October 22, '98 Mr. C. W. Randall took an adult female from the same field, and presumabIy from the same flock. November 5, again found me in this field after another Vesper Sparrow, but I was doomed to disappointment, for I could not find a single bird.
JOHN M. WILLARD
2221 Elm St., Oakland, Cal.
