14 Townsend, Habits of the English Sparrow. [jan 



or twenty minutes later on cloudy days, — and lasts in full volume 

 nearly an hour. A few scattering chirps are first heard from the 

 early ones, but the multitudes on vines and trees and house-tops 

 soon take up the theme, and the din is almost deafening. The 

 chief note is chis-ick or tsee-up monotonously repeated, with various 

 modifications, for the most part high pitched and ear racking, but 

 occasionally deeper and almost melodious. Certain individuals 

 repeat notes or even series of notes that are not unattractive, and 

 may even be called musical. These are not common but may be 

 heard every spring, and, on mild days, even as early as January. 

 At the height of the morning chorus, for such it must be called, there 

 is at times a distinct rhythm, caused by some of the birds keeping 

 time. This chirping rhythm I have frequently tried to count but 

 generally without success, for each bird appears to chirp manfully 

 on his own hook without regard to time. I have, however, some- 

 times found its rate to be 60 or 70 times a minute, slowing down 

 to 40 on hot days. In this respect the Sparrow differs directly from 

 the cold blooded insect that sings faster the hotter the weather. 



Individual singers may be heard at almost any time during the 

 day in the spring months, but after the morning chorus, scattering 

 chirps, conversational tones and angry scrapping notes are more 

 common, as well as the loud rattling call which seems to be almost 

 entirely limited to the female, although I have occasionally heard 

 it from the male. This rattling call is frequently emitted by the 

 female as she flies to feed her young either in the nest or on the 

 street, as well as when she playfully or in anger flies at her mate. 

 I do not feel sure of the full significance of this rattle and it deserves 

 further study. 



An early morning in August in the city lacks this chorus, just as 

 in the country August mornings are as destitute of our native 

 birds' songs as June mornings are full of them, which helps to prove 

 the assumption just made that the House Sparrow is a songster 

 even if a vile and primitive one. Thus in late August the sparrows 

 may be heard to chatter in conversational ways beginning ten or 

 fifteen minutes before sunrise, but there is no rapid repetition of 

 call notes, no chorus, no hint of a song. 



As the extermination of this bird appears to be utterly out of the 

 question, our only hope lies in education, for it has been found by 



