A SPAHHOW QUARTETTE. 73 



two, sometimes three prolonged notes, followed by 

 a rapid trill. It may be represented fairly by the 

 following combination : Fe-e-e^ fe-e-e^ fa-fe-e-e^ fe- 

 fe-fe I dying out in a cadence. In the middle 

 of the da}', when most birds are mute, this fine, 

 silvery run may be heard at the edge of a wood- 

 land, chiming, if I may so speak, with the bright 

 sunshine itself, of which it seems to form a part. 

 Usually there is an interval of silence between the 

 separate runs, but one day while strolling along the 

 borders of a wood, I was pleasantly surprised to 

 hear one of these little minstrels, in a transport of 

 musical excitement, repeat his song three or four 

 times in one continuous strain and in an unusually 

 gay and sprightly tone. His song reminds one of 

 the peal of a string of silver bells. 



We have only to step out from the edge of the 

 woods to the adjoining clover-field to form the 

 acquaintance of another member of the sparrow 

 family, whose exquisite solos will soon attract the 

 attention of every bird-lover. Perhaps you will 

 first hear his canticle wafted to you from the grass 

 beyond the fence, while he himself remains invis- 

 ible, like some shy elf ; but he soon appears, select- 

 ing a perch on a stump or a fence-stake in full 

 view, and then, throwing back his head, prying 



