Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-23
THE SONG SPARROW,
The Most Gifted and Industrious of the
Early Ministries of Spring.

sweetest OIL the early mlnStrelS OF
spring. most varied and most unsteady
Industrious is the song sparrow. 1t is
to be found in the city parks by those
who know how and where to look for
it, though naturally it is an inhabitant
of the fields and the open spaces of
woods
This is an inconsiderable bird. about
the height and length of the English
sparrow, but slenderer and without the
bullet, pugnaciouS John Bull head. 1t
is brown of back, wings and head, like
the English sparrow, but is to be iden-
titled readily by the speckled breast,
which has a single black spot low
down in the centre.
The song sparrow is seldom seen up
on trees, and very rarely high up. 1t
perches generally upon the ground, or
upon some low bush or dead treetop.
When disturbed it dives instantly into
low brush or other thick cover, firt-
| ing its tail as it goes, and once there
sets up Immediately d faint cheep-
cheep of alarm. 1t has every conf
dence i'll its ability to hide, however,
| and if it thinks itself securely con-
| cealed, will often sing when the listen
er is standing within a yard.
For vocal exercise the bird prefers
a stump, OF the limb of a sapling not
more than ten feet from the ground.
| If the sun be shining full upon it, SO
| much the better. OF dark, damp days
| it is almost wholly silent.
A suitable perch being found, it will
| sit for half an hour at a stretch and
go through its repertory. This is one
of the most extensive of all the wild
songsters. 1t is surpassed only by
some members of the thrush family
and by not all of them.
1t has many notes and these notes
are broken into several arrangements
which are never mixed and never
varied, just as if minstrel sparrow
wrote a lot of songs ages ago and
censor sparrow selected those which
were fit for public hearing, excluding
all of the rest by the simple process
of destroying the manuscripts and kill
ing the composer.
If let alone, the singer will sing ev-
| crythng that it knows, and then, if not
satisfied, will sing them over again,
being in this respect much like a vaude-
vile artist willing to do an unlim-
tied number of turns so long as there
10 Il IlclluCitp anu lllt
does not interfere. Each song con-
siSts of half dozen notes and half
| notes, beginning with a faint peep or
| two and ending with joyous thrill, as
| if the performer were SO happy because
| of it's skill that it could not help show
| ing it.
These notes are very easily tran
| icribed by a person who has a good ear
md a technical knowledge of music and
may be reproduced with eXactness as
| to pitch and graduation upon piano.
| though, of course, the quality would be
| lacking.
While the song sparrow sings his
tunes every day, and over and over
! again through the day it seems that it
| is never certain when leaving one tune
md beginning, another that it is going
| 10 get it rigls, for always the bird be-
| gins it with a feeble, uncertain, ten
| lative effort, trying itself out, as it
we're. The notes ring true and in prop
| 9r succession, however, and a moment
lfterward the sparrow bursts into full
song, relieved by the removal Of its
| doubts.
The voice is singularly sweet and
winning and it is remarkably powerful
for so small body. The song sparrow
may be heard distinctly on Il still day
for more than a quarter of mile and
may be found by the searcher walking
slowly in the direction whence the
sound comes.
Once within forty yards the observer
must proceed with Softness and great
are, or the minstrel will disappear
with a hcadlong dive and tall-tlirt.
The tone is high, clear, pure and
with moving, liquid quality. 1t is not
so powerful, enthralling and mysterious
is the full tide of melody which pours
rom the hidden throat of the hermit
thrush, but is thoroughly attractive,
md certain of the notes have a bell
| like resonance that fingers on the ear
when the singer has ceased.
The most valuable feature of the song
Sparrow's performance is that, like the
mocking bird, 1t does not seem to sing
| consciously. When it has its melodiC
bearings the notes pour, trill or tumble
| out with no apparent effort on the part
If the singer. They seem literally to
| sing themselves.
Once in Whilc-once in a great
| While--a woman is found who sings in
| This fashion. Listeners say that she
| sings like a bird They mean that she
| sings like song sparrow.