SONG SPARROW. 
(Melospi’/za fascia’ta. ) 
ELOW white, shaded with brownish, with numerous 
black-centered, brown-edged streaks across breast, and 
along the sides. Throat white. Crown dull bay with 
black streaks. 
Wings with dull bay markings. Tail brown with darker 
shaft lines. Usually a blotch on breast. Bill dark brown; feet, 
pale brown. Length 5.90 to 6.50. Female similar in size, form 
and color. 
Eastern United States and Canada. Winters nearly through- 
out its range. A common winter sparrow of the Middle States. 
Nest in bush or on ground. Eggs four to six, greenish white 
with brown, lavender or purple markings. Two or three broods 
may be raised. A hearty, sunny songster. 
As soon as the pupils were seated they began to 
recite in concert Henry van Dyke’s beautiful poem: 
A LITTLE BROTHER OF THE AIR. 
There is a bird I know so well, 
It seems as if he must have sung 
Beside my crib when I was young; 
Before I knew the way to spell 
The name of even the smallest bird, 
‘His gentle, joyful song I heard. 
Now see if you can tell, my dear, 
What bird it is that, every year, 
Sings ‘' Sweet—sweet—sweet— 
very merry cheer,”* 
94 
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