LONDON'S LITTLE BIRDS 115 



chorus of ringing chirruping sounds has an 

 exceedingly pleasant effect ; for although com- 

 pated with the warblers' singing it may be a 

 somewhat rude music, by contrast with the noise 

 of traffic and raucous cries from human throats 

 it is very bright and glad and even beautiful, 

 voicing a wild, happy life. 



It is interesting and curious to find that this 

 habit of concert-singing at sunset, although not 

 universal, is common among passerine birds in 

 all regions of the globe. And when a bird has 

 this habit he will not omit his vesper song, even 

 when the sun is not visible and when rain is 

 falling. In some mysterious way he knows that 

 the great globe is sinking beneath the horizon. 

 Day is over, he can feed no more until 

 to-morrow, in a few minutes he will be sleeping 

 among the clustering leaves, but he must sing 

 his last song, must join in that last outburst of 

 melody to express his Overflowing joy in life. 



This is a habit of our sparrow, and even on 

 the darkest days, when days are shortest, any 

 person desirous of hearing the birds need only 

 consult the almanac to find out the exact time 

 of sunset, then repair to a ' chapel,' and he will 

 not be disappointed; 



I 2 



