26 WOOD NOTES WILD. 
especially true of the oriole, the tanager, and the bobolink. 
The voice of a bird four years old is very much fuller and 
better than that of a yearling; just as his plumage is 
deeper and richer in color. 
The song-sparrow comes soon after the bluebird and 
the robin, and sings from the time of his coming till the 
close of summer. Unlike his cousin, the field-sparrow, 
he seems to seek the companionship of man. Sitting 
near an open window one day last summer, as was my 
habit, my attention was attracted by the singing of a 
song-sparrow perched upon a twig not far away. Fancy- 
ing that he addressed himself to me individually, I re- 
sponded with an occasional whistle. He listened with 
evident interest, his head on one side and his eye rolled 
up. For many days in succession he came at about the 
same hour in the afternoon, and perching in the same 
place sang his cheery and varied songs, listening in turn 
to my whistles. 
