Chapter III 

 SPARROWS AND FINCPIES 



"He comes in March, when winds are strong. 

 And snow returns to hide the earth; 

 But still he warms his heart with mirth, 

 And waits for May. He lingers long 

 While flowers fade; and ever\' day- 

 Repeats his small, contented lay; 

 As if to say, we need not fear 

 The season's change, if love is here. 

 With 'swect-sweet-sweet-very merry cheer.' " 



— Thf Song Sparrow, Henry van Dyke. 



This is a very numerous family, widely dis- 

 tributed over the earth's surface, having among 

 its members many of our most common birds. 

 As they are for the most part seed eaters, they 

 are provided with round, strong bills, admirably 

 adapted for crushing seedshells. And as they 

 do not have to travel so far in migration in order 

 to secure a food supply as the insect eaters, they 

 are northern dwellers. In fact some of them, 

 notably the Snowflake and Redpoll, winter 

 where the weather is extremely cold and the 

 snows deep. 



Song Sparrow. This familiar songster is 

 among our dearest friends of the bird world. 

 Not only is he a constant singer during his long 

 residence with us, but so trustful and fearless is 

 he that he comes close about our homes, appar- 

 ently fully aware of our love for him. The mere 

 fact that he has been named the Song Sparrow 



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