and labored in technique, but the tones 

 are very sweet indeed, not soft and low 

 but quite loud and clear. Quite often the 

 song opens with one or two long syllables 

 and ends with a merry litle trill having 

 a delightfully human intonation. There 

 is, indeed, something innocent and child- 

 like about the voices of these sparrows." 

 The Tree Sparrow is often called the 



Winter Chippy and is confounded with 

 the chipping sparrow, which it resembles. 

 It is a larger bird and carries a mark of 

 identification by which it may be easily 

 known. There is on the grayish white 

 breast a small black spot. Moreover, the 

 Tree Sparrow arrives in its winter range 

 about the time that the chippy retires to 

 the Gulf States and Mexico. 



THE SPARROWS' BEDTIME. 



" Wee, wee, weet, tweet, tweet, tweet! " 

 What a clatter, what a chatter 

 In the village street. 

 " Chee, chee, cheep, cheep, chee, chee, chee!" 

 What a rustling, what a hustling 

 In the maple tree. 



"Twit, twit, flit, flit, get away, quit! " 



How they gabble, how they scrabble 

 As to rest they flit. 

 " Peep, peep, tweet, tweet, wee, wee, wee! " 

 How they hurry, how they scurry, 

 Noisy as can be. 



" Tr'r, tr'r, sh, sh, do be still, , 



You're no wood thrush, wish you could hush, 

 You know you can't trill." 

 "Tr'r, tr'r, r'r, r'r, yip, peep, peep, 



You're another, Til tell mother, 

 I was most asleep." 



" Tr'r, sh, chee, chee, peep, yip, yip!" 



See them swinging, gaily clinging 

 To the branch's tip. 

 " Tr'r, sh, cheep, peep, tee, hee, hee! " 



Hear them titter, hear them twitter, 

 Full of energy. " 



^ 7$ -JfC 



Sudden silence falls, 



Not a peep is heard; 

 To its neighbor calls 



Not one little bird, 

 Silent too the trees 



Calm their secret keeping; 

 Gently sighs the breeze; 



Sparrows all are sleeping. 



— Adene Williams. 



113 



