OUR HOME BIRDS. 
293 
proaches the farmhouse, rambles about the wood-pile, 
and creeps among the openings like a mouse. With 
tail erect — which is his constant habit — mounted on 
some projecting point or pinnacle, he sings with great 
animation. Even in the yards, gardens, and outhouses 
of the city he appears familiar and quite at home/ 
“ This little bird is brown, like his relatives, mixed 
with black and white. He comes to us in October 
with the snow-birds, and usually stays all winter. 
“ The tree-sparrow is frequently seen in flocks with 
the snow-birds, and generally makes his appearance 
here in November. He is six and a half inches long, 
and the upper part of his head is a bright reddish- 
brown ; the neck and breast are a pale ash-color ; the 
back is very prettily streaked with pale drab, bright 
bay, and black. 
“ This sparrow is said to frequent sheltered hollows, 
thickets, and hedgerows near springs of water, and 
to have a low, warbling note that can scarcely be 
heard at the distance of twenty or thirty yards. There 
is scarcely a more common bird, however, to be seen 
on the roadside than this same sparrow, and I think 
you would like to hear where I saw a colony of them 
last winter.” 
“ Indeed we would, Miss Harson !” cried the chil- 
dren simultaneously. 
25 * 
