194 



BIRDS OF THE ROCKIES 



below Cassels. They M^ere breeding at Arvada, for 

 a female was seen carrying a worm in her bill, and I 

 am sure a nest might easily have been found had 

 I not been so busily occupied in the study of other 

 and rarer species. However, the recollection of the 

 merry lyrists with the speckled breasts and silvery 

 voices, brings to mind Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton's 

 "Myth of the Song-Sparrow,'"" from which it will be 

 seen that this attractive bird has had something of an 

 adventurous career : 



' His mother was the Brook, his sisters were the Reeds, 

 And they every one applauded when he sang about his deeds. 

 His vest was white, his mantle brown, as clear as they could be. 

 And his songs were fairly bubbling o'er with melody and glee. 

 But an envious Neighbor splashed with nmd our Brownie's coat 



and vest. 

 And then a final handful threw that stuck upon his breast. 

 The Brook-bird's mother did her best to wash the stains away. 

 But there they stuck, and, as it seems, are very like to stay. 

 And so he wears the splashes and the mud blotch, as you see ; 

 But his songs are bubbling over still with melody and glee." 



" His songs are ^'^ 

 bubbling over 

 still with melody f 

 and glee " 



Song Sparrow 



