1 8 THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 



parts of the forest, to the clean, open woods, where 

 she can command all the approaches and fly with 

 equal case in any direction. 



Another favorite sparrow, but little noticed, is the 

 ■ 1 or bush sparrow, usually called by the ornitholo- 

 gists spizclla pusilla. Its size and form is that of the 

 ■/is, but is less distinctly marked, being of a 

 duller redder tinge. He prefers remote bushy heathery 

 fields, where his song is one of the sweetest to be 

 heard. It is sometimes very noticeable, especially early 

 in spring. I remember sitting one bright day in the 

 still leafless April woods, when one of these birds 

 struck up a few rods from me, repeating its lay at short 

 intervals for nearly an hour. It was a perfect piece of 

 wood-music, and was of course all the more noticeable 

 for being projected upon such a broad unoccupied 

 page of silence. Its song is like the words, fe-o,fe-o, 

 fe-o,frw,frw, few, fee fee fee, uttered at first high and 

 leisurely, but running very rapidly toward the close, 

 which is low and soft. 



Still keeping among the unrecognized, the white- 

 eyed vireo, or fly-catcher, deserves particular mention. 

 The song of this bird is not particularly sweet and 

 soft ; on the contrary, it is a little hard and shrill, like 

 that of the indigo-bird or oriole ; but for brightness, 

 volubility, execution, and power of imitation, he is 

 unsurpassed by any of our northern birds. His or- 

 dinary note is forcible and emphatic, but, as stated, 

 not especially musical : Chick-a-re'r-chick, he seems to 



