SONG SPARROW 



"a little brown bird" 



{Fig- 34) 



ATE in February, when in some 



sheltered, sun-warmed nook, I hear 



a Song Sparrow sing, I know that 



spring is near because "a little bird 



has told me so." The ground may 



still be white with snow, the bare 



branches show no sign of life. Not even the pussy 



willows have "crept out along each bough," nor have 



the frogs piped a single note. But there is the signal, 



"Spring, Spring, Spring, sunny days are here." 



It is said in such a sweet, unpretentious voice and 



by such a modest, unassuming little bird, that one 



cannot at first believe Nature would send so great a 



message in such a simple way. 



When the Cranes trumpet it to the four winds and 



the Geese call it through the sky, we know it is true; 



but long before they have spread the news so that 



any one may hear, those whose ears are attuned to 



66 



