2~ONG SPARROW 
eroups of three or four; they have a special liking fo 
the roadside. Mr. Ned Dearborn reports having seen 
three ‘“‘sports” of this species, all similar, having heads 
and necks partly white. 
Song Sparrow The Song Sparrow is the flower of his 
Melospiza ___—‘ family, a musician of exceptional ability, 
cineria melodia 
L. 6.35 inches and the possessor of a character remark- 
Allthe year able for its cheerfulness under all con- 
ditions of weather. But in appearance he is one who 
could never take the prize in a Bird Show! It is 
true his spots betoken a ‘‘ marked” appearance, but 
the marks are not distinguished ones; his qualities sur- 
pass his charms. Head ruddy brown with a sugges- 
tion of a median gray line; the region of ihe eye gray 
tinged with brown; a red-brown line behind the eye; 
back light brown streaked with darker brown; sides of 
the light gray throat marked with a chain of blackish 
or dark brown spots; no wing-bars; breast spotted with 
wedge-shaped streaks of sepia and red-brown some of 
which are confluent in the central region forming a dis- 
tinct dark blotch; under parts almost white. The sexes 
are similarly marked. The loosely built nest is formed 
of dried rootlets and leaves, shreds of bark, coarse 
grasses, and sometimes hair; within it is lined with 
similar but softer material; it is usually found on the 
ground, or sometimes low down ina bush. The egg is 
blue-white and generously splashed with brown. This 
Sparrow is common everywhere and breeds from Vir- 
ginia northward. 
Mr. Chapman sums up the estimable qualities of the 
interesting, cheery little songster as follows: ‘‘ its readi- 
ness to adapt itself to the different conditions in each 
of the regions it inhabits, its numerical abundance 
and steady increase while some of its family are dying 
out, its freedom from disease and vermin, and its peren- 
nial good spirits evidenced by its never-failing music— 
all proclaim that it is indeed one of Nature’s successes.” 
That is an ornithologist’s estimate of this greatly favored 
Sparrow, and certainly we ought to be very grateful for 
the facts, as this is the bird that sings best of all—sings 
Toa 
