The San Francisco call., 1897-03-07

reason the English sparrow, the one rowdy |
of the tribe, is not very numerous here
a bouts this spring, though one or two pairs |
have already begun building. We can |
spare them, however, but not for good |
deal would l consent to spare the aristo
crat of the whole family, the white.
crowned sparrow.
l saw the first one of the season yester-
day, as | lay in the grass looking up to
where massed white clouds drifted, now
and again, across the blue roof which
seemed to bend down to meet the green
walls that inclosed me. 1t was like being
alone in small world Of my own, "blue
sky overhead, green sky breaking UNDER"
and into the midst of it all the white
crowned sparrow flew, perched upon
low branch just above me and survey ed
me with calm. serene interest. Ny heart
gave a leap of welcome. The plain slate
colored bird. with his royal little mead, is a
favorite OF mine. There is a severe ee-
gance in the sober garb, a gentle, assured
refinement OF manner and expression. that
esta blish the birds position at once. He
needs no credentials You trust him in
stinctively, but when he begins to sing
you at once welcome him in your affection
One never grows very intimate with the
| white crowned sparrow. lie hovers about
and above you, and you may delight in
his grace and the beauty of his black and
white head, but he is off if you approach
too near, though not. | am sure. because
he is afraid of you. He does not fly away;
that phrase is much too abrupt to charac-
terize the gentle dignity with which he
! withdraws from your too near approach.
fyou remain quiet he will presently re-
turn to his old position and begin to sing,
but if yoa do not take this hint and main
tain due reserve toward him, he will go off
! altogether. 1t is better TO humor him,
for he Is delightful com panion, only too
glad to have a listener to his sweet, clear,
but rather plalntive song.
When | saw the white crown / knew
might look for his constant companion,
the te-throated sparrow, for these birds
are almost always together. l was not
disappointed, for during the afternoon l
encountered quite flock OF the white
throats among the cypress trees. This
little bird is not so handsome as its royal
friend. 1t has tiny white streak along
the top OF its head, and a yellow
line before the eye. There is also a dash
OF yellow in the wings and the throat is
marked with broad white patch. l also
noticed the skylark sparrow that same
day, and got one or two fieetlng glimpses
OF plain little bird that l took to be q
LIE Con:e's sparrow, but l could not get
near enough 10 determine his identity.
AS L lay watching the white-crowned
sparrow my attention was attracted by a
small object stirring among the thick
tangle of myrtle that clothes the banks of
the stream running among the willows
far below. The distance was too great to
permit making the object out, even with
the aid of a feld-glass; so, creeping eau
tiously down, l crawled in among the
myrtle that, unmolested for years, had
piled up upon Itself in rank luxurious
ness, SO that one could lie among it and
be almost hidden. The object of nv
search disappeared as 1 drew near, but,
keeping the spot in view, crept on until
at last, thrusting an investigating hand
among the tangled vines, l routed out