232 CITIZEN BIRD 



whose music and color vanish from the garden and 

 roadside when frost comes. Yet the Song Sparrow 

 sings throughout the year, except in the storms of 

 February and March — not always the varied spring 

 song, but still a sweet little tune. 



''The Song Sparrow is humble and retiring about 

 the location of his nest, usually putting it on or near 

 the ground ; though of course some pairs may have 

 ideas of their own about nest-building, and choose a 

 bird-box or even a hole in a tree. One thing you 

 must remember about birds and their ways : Nature 

 has fixed a few important laws that must not be 

 changed, but has given birds and other animals liberty 

 to follow their own tastes in all other matters. 



"Wherever the thick nest is placed, it is cleverly 

 hidden. If in a low shrub, it is in the crotch where 

 tlie branches spread above the root. If on tlie ground, 

 it is against an old stump with a tuft of grass on each 

 side, or in a little hollow between bushes. Our Spar- 

 row likes to live in the garden hedges and about the 

 orchard, and to cultivate the acquaintance of House 

 People in a shy sort of way. 



'' He never flies directly to and from his home like 

 the Chippy, Wren, and Robin, but slips off the nest 

 and runs along the ground as nimbly as a Thrush, till 

 he reaches a bush, well away from his house, when he 

 hops into it and flies away. 



" ' Chek ! chek ! chek ! ' is the call-note of the Song 

 Sparrows, who also have a short, sweet song, which 

 every bird varies and lengthens to please himself or 

 his mate. 'Maids, maids, maids, liang on your tea- 

 kettle-ettle-ettle,' some people fancy the bird says, and 



