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 
100 
ebut pm, . 
