A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
623 
Some birds are poets and sing all summer. They are the 
true singers. Any man can write verses in the love season. 
We are most interested in those birds that sing for the love 
of the music, and not of their mates ; who meditate their strains 
and amuse themselves with singing; the birds whose strains 
are of deeper sentiment.” 
An abundant resident throughout New England, and one 
of the best-known birds. It is extremely abundant in early 
spring and late fall months, becoming less numerous in the 
depths of winter, which it passes in the most secluded places, 
where the density of the cover protects it from the full vigor 
of the blasts. 
The Song Sparrow flushes with music as soon as winter 
relaxes in the least, finding full voice in March. 
THE MYTH OF THE SONG SPARROW 
His mother was the Brook, his sisters were the Reeds, 
And they every one applauded when he sang about his deeds. 
His vest was white, his mantle brown, as clear as they could be, 
And his songs were fairly bubbling o’er with melody and glee. 
But an envious Neighbor splashed with mud our Brownie’s coat and 
vest, 
And then a final handful threw that stuck upon his breast. 
The Brook-bird’s mother did her best to wash the stains away, 
But there they stuck, and, as it seems, are very like to stay. 
And so he wears the splashes and the mud blotch, as you see, 
But his songs are bubbling over still with melody and glee. 
— Bird-Lore, Ernest Seton-Thompson 
Fox Sparrow : Passerella iliac a. In migration 
■ Length: 6. 50-7.25 inches. 
Male and Female: The largest and reddest of the Sparrows, the size 
of the Hermit Thrush. Above red-brown, varying from dark to 
bright chestnut, brightest on rump and tail. Breast light gray, 
arrowhead markings on throat and breast, sides streaked with 
reddish brown. Bill dark above, lower mandible yellowish, feet 
pale. 
Song: A sweet, varied warble, sometimes heard during migrations. 
Call note a feeble zip-zip. 
Season: In migrations. Common in March, April, October, and No- 
vember. Found by Mr. Averill as late as December 29th. 
Nest: Usual Ground Sparrow nest. 
Eggs: Greenish white, speckled with red-brown. 
Ed. — 40 
