FAMILY Fringillidz. 
under all conditions of weather, at all times of the day 
(and sometimes at night), in every month of the year, 
and with the cleverest understanding of melody, He 
is also one of the very few birds who is able to sing 
half a dozen songs each of which is constructively dif- 
ferent from the other. The Thrushes are far more gifted 
musicians, but they lack the versatility of the Song 
Sparrow. 
As a general rule the little fellow comes to us in 
March, and leaves about the first of November, but 
there are many individuals which stay all the year 
around. He is not quite as sociable as the Chipping ~ 
Sparrow, for he makes his home on the meadow that 
slopes toward the river rather than in the shrubbery 
that lines the roadside; nevertheless he is one of the 
most frequent visitors of the spreading lawns that sur- 
round our country homes, and he is a familiar occupant 
of every bush that is planted in the neighborhood. 
Presumably every one knows his call-note—a metallic 
chip; but through sheer multiplicity of motive, I sus- 
pect his song is not always distinguished with perfect 
sertainty, especially as it often develops a distinctly 
local character. For instance, the Song Sparrows of 
Nantucket apparently sing with higher-pitched voices, 
more overtones, and less regard for the usual accented 
opening notes, than do those of the White Mountain 
region. The birds about New York, on the other hand, 
accent the first few notes and then often ripple along in 
canarylike trills. But Ido not regard these differences 
as permanent; the fundamental character of the music 
is never changed, it is apparent in a series of accented, 
sustained tones (generally three) at the beginning, the 
middle, or the end of the song, but usually at the begin- 
ning, a rapid succession of about six notes—or better, a 
tone interrupted a number of times, a group of tones 
separated by well-preserved intervals, and the contrast- 
ive coloring here and there of a distinct overtone. These 
signs represent but one form: — ——.—....-- 
(see the notation with words ‘‘ Welcome to Campton’s,” 
etc). It is evident, therefore, that mechanical rhythm 
in the case of this bird’s song is no strong factor in ite 
TIO 
