The Birds’ Calendar 
with chickadees, snow-birds, white-throats, and 
any others of peaceable disposition. 
Two days after arrival it began singing, not 
with the long preliminary skirmishings of twit- 
terings and half-voiced effects so common, but 
lusty and clear. Its musical ability was a glad 
surprise, although I have heard it so highly 
commended, far surpassing all other sparrows in 
fine modulation and a peculiarly full, luscious, 
and flute-like quality of tone, tinged with a de- 
licious plaintiveness. ‘The song of the fox spar- 
row is more like a wild spring flower than any- 
thing one has heard thus far in the year. If its 
notes should fall to the ground and take root, 
they would certainly spring up as hepaticas or 
something of the sort. These little creatures 
win admiration too by singing in all weathers ; 
and throughout the year one will seldom hear 
more spontaneous, rich, and delicate strains than 
those that come from this passing visitor, amid 
the leafless trees and under the gloomy clouds 
of March. 
During the remaining days of the month rob- 
ins became quite abundant, but I did not hear 
their song till the 26th. By that time the snow- 
bird, a soft-voiced little specimen, was indulg- 
ing in a variety of fine twitters as it busily moved 
go 
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