12 BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



wood and the half- wooded pasture. The birds of the gar- 

 den and orchard have been frequently described, and are 

 very generally known, though but little has been said of 

 their powers and peculiarities of song. In the sketches 

 that follow I have given particular attention to the vocal 

 powers of the different birds, and have attempted to 

 designate the part that each one performs in the grand 

 hymn of Nature. 



THE SONG-SPARROW. 



The Song-Sparrow, one of our most familiar birds, 

 claims our first attention as the earliest visitant and 

 latest resident of all the tuneful band, and one that is 

 universally known and admired. He is plain in his ves- 

 ture, undistinguished from the female by any superiority 

 of plumage. He comes forth in the spring and takes his 

 departure in the autumn in the same suit of russet and 

 gray by which he is always identified. In March, before 

 the violet has ventured to peep out from the southern 

 slope of the pasture or the sunny brow of the hill, while 

 the northern skies are liable at any hour to pour down 

 a storm of sleet and snow, the Song-Sparrow, beguiled 

 by southern winds, has already appeared, and on still 

 mornings may be heard warbling his few merry notes, 

 as if to make the earliest announcement of his arrival. 

 He is therefore the true harbinger of spring ; and, if not 

 the sweetest songster, he has the merit of bearing to man 

 the earliest tidings of the opening year, and of proclaim- 

 ing the first vernal promises of the season. As the notes 

 of those birds that sing only in the night come with a 

 double charm to our ears, because they are harmonized 

 by silence and hallowed by the hour that is sacred to 

 repose, in like manner does the Song-Sparrow delight us 

 in tenfold measure, because he sings the sweet prelude to 

 the universal hymn. 



