24 



In a few places, especiallv near the 

 coast. SONG S P A R R O ^\' S remain 

 throughout the winter, tliat is a small 

 number of them do. The majority, how- 

 ever, like Robins and Bluebirds, which 

 winter under similar conditions, pass 

 the coldest weather in our southern 

 states. Early in March see them back 

 in their old haunts and we can safely 

 say that everyone is delighted to again 

 hear their friendly voices uplifted in 

 song. Their song is a very merry lit- 

 tle .iingle. the drift of which can be 

 gotten from the words. "Maids, maids, 

 maids, put on the kettle-ettle-ettle." 

 The song varies indefinately with dif- 

 ferent individuals and sometimes the 

 same one has several renditions, but 

 they all have the same well known 

 twang. 



They frequent the shrubbery of our 

 yards, roadsides and thickets, building 

 their grass nests either on the ground 

 or close to it in bushes or patches of 

 weeds. The eg-gs are bluish-white, 

 lieavily spotted with browm. Song Spar- 

 rows are easily identified since the 

 streaks on the breast tend to form a 

 distinct blotch. 



approach they hop into view and chip or move off through 

 the woods uttering a shrill complaining note as they leave. 

 Sometimes we may hear their songs, which are very sweet 

 and varied, but their best music is reserved until they reach 

 their home lands. 



JUNCOS or Snow Birds are abundant during spring 

 and fall migrations and a few of them pass the winter with 

 us, while others also stay and nest in our mountains. We 

 usually see them in flocks, often in company with Fox Spar- 

 rows and Tree Sparrows, Nearly everyone knows them — 

 gray birds with white outer tail feathers and white under 

 parts sharph^ defined against the gray breast. Besides a 

 sharjD alarm chijD, they often sing a very sweet little trill, 

 which is most pleasing when delivered in concert. 



CHIPPING SPARROWS are most sociable of all. 

 They return to us early in the spring and take up their quar- 

 ters in our orchards or shrubs about our houses; sometimes 

 they even build their little nests of rootlets and hair in 

 vines covering our porches. They are not in the least 

 timid and will hop about the lawn almost at our feet, 

 hunting for beetles and sjnders. Tlieir ap])earance, with 

 jaunty little brown cap bordered with black, and their ways 



