64 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



cheese." I have never heard any wild bird sing an articulate 

 word, and probably no two people hearing the same bird for 

 the first time would write its song with the same words. But 

 if suitable words can be found to interpret birds' notes, it is 

 wonderful how it enables the listener to distinguish difterent 

 species in a multitude of songs. 



One of our best known bird songs is that of the white- 

 throated sparrow, yet every author writes it differently. I was 

 tempted to say one of our best known birds, but a long exix-ri- 

 ence as a teacher of nature studies has convinced me that while 

 nearly every one knows the song of the white-throat, very few 

 persons really know the bird. The "Indian name," says 

 W ilham J. Long, "is Killoleet."' and a more appropriate name 

 could not be found. The song is clear and very musical. 

 Any one who plays can easily reproduce it on the piano. Vari- 

 ous interpretations are Old-Sam-Peahody-Peabody-Peabody, 

 All-day long zvhittling-tvhittUruj-u'hittling, My-ozvn-dear- 

 Canada-Canada-Canada, and O-hear-killoleet-kiUoleet-kiUolcet. 



And what claim does this songster have upon growers of 

 fruits, and why should he be protected and encouraged? If a 

 bird that devours tent caterpillars, plant lice, tussock moths, 

 and destructive beetles found on the trunks of our apple trees, 

 does not deserve a place in our hearts as a protector of fruits, 

 the fact that he also, on occasions descends to the earth and 

 searches for ground beetles, may throw the balance in his 

 favor. 



The chipping sparrow, the companion of childhood, is a con- 

 stant worker in the garden, yard and orchard. It is sometimes 

 called the hair bird, from the long horse hairs used for lining 

 its nest, which is placed in a tree or vines near the house, that 

 no time may be wasted in reaching its feeding ground. Next 

 to the robin, it is the most familiar of all our birds and often 

 picks up crumbs near our doors. Its song is a mere string of 

 chip-chip-chips, with no more music in it than there is in the 

 monotonous click-click of a sewing machine. Its spring and 

 early summer food consi.sts of caterpillars. So persistent is 

 this bird in its search for caterpillars that it interfered seri- 

 ously with experiments that were being made upon gypsy 

 moths under cover, by breaking through the net that enclosed 

 them, and eating the larv?e. Such persistence should be en- 



