FAMILY Fringlllldm. 



under all conditions of w-atln-r, at all times of the day 

 (and sometimes at night), in every month of the year, 

 and with the cleverest understanding of melody. Il- 

 ia also one of the very few birds who is able to sing 

 half a dozen songs each of which is constructively dif- 

 ferent from the other. The Thrushes are far more gifted 

 musicians, but they lack the versatility of the Song 

 Sparrow. 



As a general rule the little fellow comes to us in 

 March, and leaves about the first of November, but 

 there are many individuals which stay all the year 

 around. He is not quite as sociable as the Chipping 

 Sparrow, for he makes his home on the meadow that 

 slopes toward the river rather than in the shrubbery 

 that lines the roadside; nevertheless he is one of the 

 most frequent visitors of the spreading lawns that sur- 

 round our country homes, and he is a familiar occupant 

 of every bush that is planted in the neighborhood. 



Presumably every one knows his call-note a metallic 

 chip; but through sheer multiplicity of motive, I sus- 

 pect his song is not always distinguished with perfect 

 certainty, especially as it often develops a distinctly 

 local character. For instance, the Song Sparrows of 

 Nantucket apparently sing with higher-pitched voices, 

 more overtones, and less regard for the usual accented 

 opening notes, than do those of the White Mountain 

 region. The birds about New York, on the other hand, 

 accent the first few notes and then often ripple along in 

 canary like trills. But I do not regard these differences 

 as permanent; the fundamental character of the music 

 is never changed, it is apparent in a series of accented, 

 sustained tones (generally three) at the beginning, the 

 middle, or the end of the song, but usually at the begin- 

 ning, a rapid succession of about six notes or better, a 

 tone interrupted a number of times, a group of tones 

 separated by well-preserved intervals, and the contrast- 

 ive coloring here and there of a distinct overtone. These 



signs represent but one form: . 



(see the notation with words " Welcome to Camptoi 

 etc.). It is evident, therefore, that mechanical rhythm 

 in the case of this bird's song is no strong factor in its 

 no 



