I20 Birds Every Child Should Know 



ranges over-lap and there is any possibility of 

 confusion. 



When the slate-coloured j uncos come from 

 their nesting grounds far over the Canadian 

 border, look also for flocks of tree sparrows 

 in fields and door yards, where crab grass, 

 amaranth and fox tail grass, among other 

 pestiferous weeds, are most abundant. I do 

 not know how Professor Beal of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, arrived at his conclusions, 

 but he estimates that in a single state — Iowa — 

 the tree sparrows alone destroy eight hundred 

 and seventy -five tons of noxious weed seeds 

 every winter. Then how incalculably great 

 must be our debt to the entire sparrow tribe! 



Tree sparrows welcome other winter birds 

 to their friendly flocks that glean a comfortable 

 living from the weed stalks protruding from 

 the snow. Their cheerful, soft, jingling notes 

 have been likened by Mr. Chapman to " sparkling 

 frost crystals turned to music." 



WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 



Called also: Peabody-hird; Canada Sparrow 



"What's in a name?" Our English cousins 

 over the border are quite sure they hear this 

 sparrow sing the praises of Swee-e-et Can-a-da, 

 Can-a-da, Can-a-da-ah, while the New En- 



