A BIRD-LOVER'S APRIL. 219 
nightingales and skylarks with a self-satisfied 
thrill of second-hand enthusiasm, and mean- 
while our native songsters, even the best of 
them, are piping unheeded at our very: doors. 
There may have been half a dozen of the town’s 
people who noticed the presence of these fox 
sparrows, but I think it doubtful; and yet the 
birds, the largest, handsomest, and most musi- 
cal of all our many sparrows, were, as I say, 
abundant everywhere, and in full voice. 
One afternoon I stood still while a fox spar- 
row and a song sparrow sang alternately on 
either side of me, both exceptionally good vo- 
calists, and each doing his best. The songs 
were of about equal length, and as far as theme 
was concerned were not a little alike; but the 
fox sparrow’s tone was both louder and more 
mellow than the other’s, while his notes were 
longer, — more sustained, —and his voice was 
“ carried’ from one pitch to another. On the 
whole, I had no hesitation about giving him 
the palm ; but I am bound to say that his rival 
was a worthy competitor. In some respects, in- 
deed, the latter was the more interesting singer — 
of the two. His opening measure of three pips 
was succeeded by a trill of quite peculiar brill- 
iancy and perfection ; and when the other bird 
had ceased he suddenly took a lower perch, and 
began to rehearse an altogether different tune 
