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 



