SPARROW, SONG 



Generally you will find him on or near the ground at 

 the border of some undergrowth, and if there be water 

 near by, preferably a meadow brook, his presence is assured. 

 When flushed, he will doubtless make for the nearest 

 thicket, "pumping" his tail in describing his somewhat 

 jerky flight. Equally diagnostic is the bird's spotted 

 breast with the one larger spot hi its center. 



CHAPMAN. Bird Life. 22 



The first sound of the song sparrow falls on the senses 

 like a bit of unexpected sunshine in a stormy day, and 

 raises the temperature of one's feelings many degrees, 

 for in a twinkling it breaks the spell of winter. 



PARKHURST. The Birds' Calendar. 31 



Some birds are poets and sing all summer. They are 

 the true singers. Any man can write verses in the love 



season We are most interested in those birds 



that sing for the love of music and not of their mates; 

 who meditate their strains and amuse themselves with 

 singing; the birds whose strains are of deeper sentiment. 



THOREAU. 



Their song bears the test of every day; for while it is 

 not brilliant, it has all the sweetness of the gentle bird's 

 own simple nature, and heard far from home stirs chords 

 that the more brilliant strangers do not touch. Further- 

 more the student who is interested in noting bird songs, 

 will find the song sparrow's well worth study, for it varies 



135 



