Sparrow WESTERN BIRDS 



constantly about, coming to my bird table for bread 

 crumbs, bathing in my bird bath, gleaning tiny insects 

 from the growing plants, and filling the neighborhood 

 with their cheerful song. Seldom, I believe, do they 

 stray from the yard. 



They may be a trifle smaller and some darker than 

 melodia, but one knowing that bird could not mistake 

 them. They are particularly friendly birds, staying in 

 the city parks and gardens in thickly settled portions. 



As early as February 2nd I have seen a female tak- 

 ing dried leaves, string (which I had cut for her), and 

 finer material into our clump of pampas grass, which is 

 a favorite nesting site for these birds. The nest usually 

 has a bulky foundation into which is fitted a deep cup 

 which is lined with hair, or palm fibers. The female 

 does all the building, the male staying nearby and sing- 

 ing ecstatically from the fence. Once I heard the female 

 give a similar song, and when she was brooding — for her 

 spouse helped not with that either — she always answered 

 her mate with a soft ci-ci-ci, often flying off to meet him, 

 and sometimes giving a longer song, such as si, si, si, si, 

 si^sy, daTj-day-day. 



Quite often several days elapsed after the nest was 

 finished before the eggs were laid; nor did brooding begin 

 until four or five blue, speckled with brown, eggs were 

 laid. The female did all the brooding, leaving the nest 

 often for a bath, or food, or because the male called. 

 In two weeks the eggs hatched, the young being skinny 

 creatures with big yellow mouths, and well-developed 

 feet and legs. Being ground birds they leave the nest 

 earlier in life than do the more terrestrial nestlings and 

 the strong feet are needed to scramble over the rough 

 ground and through the tangle where they usually find 

 themselves. 



With the hatching of the young the musical father 

 stops his song long enough to help with the feeding. The 



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