298 THE LOG OF THE SUN 



and throat contrasting strongly with the uni- 

 formly light-coloured under parts. If this were 

 a rare bird the "black-throated sparrow" would 

 enjoy his share of admiration. 



It is wonderful how he can adapt himself to new 

 conditions, nesting anywhere and everywhere, and 

 this very adaptation is a sign of a very high order 

 of intelligence. He has, however, many character- 

 istics which tell us of his former life. A few of 

 the habits of this bird may be misleading. His 

 thick, conical biU is made for crushing seeds, but 

 he now feeds on so many different substances that 

 its original use, as shown by its shape, is obscured. 

 If there were such a thing as vaudeville among 

 birds, the common sparrow would be a star imita- 

 tor. He clings to the bark of trees and picks out 

 grubs, supporting himself with his tail like a 

 woodpecker; he launches out into the air, taking 

 insects on the wing like a flycatcher ; he clings like 

 a chickadee to the imder side of twigs, or hovers 

 in front of a heap of insect eggs, presenting a 

 feeble imitation of a hummingbird. These modes 

 of feeding represent many different families of 

 birds. 



Although his straw and feather nests are shape- 

 less affairs, and he often feeds on garbage, all 

 aesthetic feeling is not lost, as we see when he 

 swells out his black throat and white cravat, 

 spreads tail and wing and beseeches his lady-love 

 to admire him. Thus he woos her as long as he 



