SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED. PEABODY 

 BIRD 



In a family not distinguished for good looks, the white- 

 throated sparrow is conspicuously handsome, especially 

 after the spring moult. The black, white and yellow 

 markings on his head are now clear and beautiful. His 

 figure is plump and aristocratic. 



Neltje Blanchan. Bird Neighbors.^^ 



His song consists of ''two long clear notes followed 

 by two or three triplets." It has been variously translated 

 as ''Old-Sam-Peabody-Peabody-Peabody"; ''Swe-e-et Can- 

 a-da, Can-a-da, Can-a-da"; ''All day, whit-tle-ing, whit-tle- 

 ing, whit-tle-ing"; and WiUiam Hamilton Gibson tells 

 of a perplexed husbandman, Beverly by name, who, hesita- 

 ting at his choice of crops, heard him advise, " Sow wheat, 

 Pev-er-ly, Pev-er-ly, Pev-er-ly." 



The Sing- Away Bird 



Have you ever heard of the Sing-away bird. 



That sings where the Runaway river 

 Runs down with its rills from the bald-headed hills 

 That stand in the sunshine and shiver? 



" Oh, sing ! sing-away ! sing-away ! ' ' 

 How the pines and the birches are stirred 

 By the trill of the Sing-away bird ! 



And the bald-headed hills, with their rocks and their rills. 



To the tune of his raptures are ringing; 

 And their faces grow young, all the gray mists among, 



While the forests break forth into singing. 

 "Oh, sing! sing-away! sing-away!" 



And the river runs singing along; 



And the flying winds catch up the song. 



143 



