46 THE BIRD GROWN UP 
Other birds can do the same. A common 
English sparrow picked up in the streets of a 
big city, hurt, and not able to fly, was put into 
a room with a canary. 
No doubt the wild bird found his life in a 
cage rather dull, after having been used to the 
streets, and he soon began to amuse himself try- 
ing to do as the canary did, to sing. In a few 
weeks he learned the whole song, and he could 
sing it even better than his roommate, for his 
voice was full and rich, and not so shrill as the 
canary s. 
Most people think that birds sing all summer. 
They think so because they have not taken 
notice. We who are very fond of bird song 
know it 1s not so. | 
Singing begins when the birds first come in 
the spring. It goes on while the nest is being 
built, and the mother bird is sitting. The 
father has little to do at that time, and so he 
sings. And besides, he seems to be so happy 
that he cannot help it. 
But when little ones begin to call for food, 
he has to be very busy, and does not have so 
much time for music. Some birds stop singing 
as soon as they go to feeding. 
But not all do so. Many go on singing till 
they begin to change their clothes, or to moult, 

_— EEE OEEEEeEEEeEeyEeEeeEeEeEeEeEeEEeEE=™ 
