38 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



is indicative of the esteem in which his vocal 

 efforts are held. And it should be remembered 

 that he belongs to a family in which are many 

 musicians of high rank. He is one of the heralds 

 of the spring, his welcome notes being among the 

 very first to announce the new order of things, 

 the passing of the season of bare trees and bleak 

 winds, the advent of soft breezes, warm sun- 

 shine, leafing trees and budding flowers. He 

 arrives in the vicinity of New York early in 

 March and stays till the end of November. 

 Probably a few winter each year in that vicinity. 



This Sparrow is in full song soon after his early 

 arrival, and there are few more inspiring sights 

 in all bird life than one of these little brown 

 minstrels in the midst of a hard snowstorm, or 

 a cold rain, pouring out his song of faith as 

 though the sun were shining and his surround- 

 ings just to his liking. May there not be a valu- 

 able lesson for mortals in the courage and hardi- 

 hood of this cheerful little singer? 



The Song Sparrow is a plainly dressed but 

 not unattractive bird. The back is a streaked 

 grayish brown, with the crown brighter and a 

 light line through its center, and over each eye. 

 The under parts are grayish white with spots and 

 streaks of dark brown centering in a large blotch 

 on the breast. The dark spot and the peculiar 

 pumping motion of the tail when in flight are 

 two good field marks for knowing him. The 

 colors of this species vary much in different 

 localities. In Arizona he is very light; in Alaska 

 quite dark, almost black, with intermediate stages 

 between. This Sparrow is about six inches long. 



