The Birds' Calendar 



blance to the reiterated sound of peabody, 

 peabody, peabody, with the accent on the first 

 syllable, and commonly a downward inflection 

 on the following syllables. This peculiarity, 

 and a genuine whistling quality of tone, unlike 

 that of any other species, are sufficient to iden- 

 tify the bird, even if one had never heard the 

 song before. Without the depth of sentiment 

 and rich volume of sound that distinguish the 

 fox sparrow, it is quite characteristic and cheery. 

 Nor is it less pleasing because of the creature's 

 evident reluctance to have spectators at the per- 

 formance ; for it precipitately retires from the 

 scene when it sees any one approaching ; but 

 if you linger in the vicinity unobserved, you 

 may often enjoy quite a protracted recital. In 

 this respect how different from the song spar- 

 row, which can always be relied upon to take a 

 most conspicuous position on a bush or tree, 

 as if singing to all the world ; and yet so art- 

 less withal, as rather to enhance the effect. 



As the season advances the colors of the 

 white - throated sparrow brighten perceptibly, 

 and many of the specimens become quite attrac- 

 tive before they leave for their summer home. 

 The disappearance of a bird's bright colors in 

 autumn seems to be nature's safeguard. The 



