7 
Tiiic i-;ncii,IvSii vSI’akrow. 
“ black-throated sparrow” would enjoy unlimited admira¬ 
tion. 
It is wonderful how he can adapt himself to new condi¬ 
tions, nesting anywhere and everywhere, and this very 
adaptation is a sign of a high order of intelligence. He has, 
however, many characteristics which tell us of his former 
life and surroundings, and the noticing of these will give 
our vacations much more value and enjoyment as we ap¬ 
ply the facts to our native birds of the woods and waters. 
A few of the habits of this sparrow may mislead us. His 
thick, conical bill is made for crushing seeds, but now he 
feeds on so many different substances that its original use, 
which is shown by its shape, is obscured. If there was 
such a thing as vaudeville among birds the common spar¬ 
row would be a star imitator. He clings to the bark of 
trees and picks out grubs, supporting himself with his tail 
like a woodpecker ; he launches out into the air, taking in¬ 
sects on the wing like a flycatcher ; he clings like a chick¬ 
adee to the underside of twigs, or hovers in front of a heap 
of insect eggs, presenting a rather feeble imitation of a 
hummingbird. These modes of feeding represent many 
different families of birds. 
Although his straw and feather nests are shapeless af¬ 
fairs, and he often feeds on garbage, all aesthetic feeling is 
not lost, as we can plainly see when he swells out his black 
neck and white cravat, spreads wings and tail, and be¬ 
seeches his lady love to admire him. Thus he woos her 
as long as he is alone, but when several other eager suit¬ 
ors arrive his patience gives out, and the courting turns 
into a football game. Rough and tumble is the word, and 
.somehow in the midst of it all her highness manages to 
make her mind known, and off she flies with the lucky one. 
Thus we have represented the two extremes of courting 
among birds. 
It is worth noting tliat the male alone is ornamented, 
