Evening star., 1945-11-10
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeU.
CHEVY CHASE. Md

SaEN chase, MD,
Dear Sir:
Il saw a song sparrow the other day.
the first one which has been around our
place for good time.
one year We had several the entire
time, and never got tired of watching
them, and listening to them, they were
such happy mites.
L recalled that you had upon several
occasions said that they were first
cousins to the English sparrows, and
that because the song sparrow is good
bird, the English sparrows ought to be
more admired than they are.
Il tried to do this, but must confess
that could never work up much ad-
miration for the little gamins from the
streets, although T admit that out our
way they are scarcely street urchins any
more.
Still I like the song sparrow best,
even If I cannot altogether believe any
more in the old adage that birds of a
feather flock together that is, the song
sparrows and the English sparrows do
flock together, but that still does not
make the latter as good as the former,
to my humble way of thinking.
I like to watch the song sparrow
take bath, and for that purpose I
have fixed up a sunken bowl not far
from the window, where I can watch it
easily, and never tire of watching these
take their baths.
Sincerely, o. K. L."
1t Is true that most persons. con-
fronted with both song sparrows and
English sparrows, will give the crown to
the former
This comes about not only because the
song sparrow is a native bird, but also
because OF its pleasant song, often heard
In winter, its interesting markings, and
gentle habits.
This beauty is not often seen at bird
feeding stations, but likes taste of suet
now and then, and always appreciates
It's bath. Unlike the English sparrows,
1t is not devotee of the dust bath
taking it occasionally, but not daily. as
do the English forms.
The song sparrow Is 61a inches long.
with upper parts streaked brown and
black, and under parts white streaked
with black.
The crown, in adults, is brown, mar
rowly streaked with black and is divided
by narrow center stripe of gray.
The young resemble the adults, but
are without the gray on the upper parts,
and the crown has an indistinct center
stripe of dull grayish buff
There is no sound in winter more well
come than the song of this bird. Usually
he sings from the top of post or bush.
He likes to sing, and does not mind if
listeners see him do 1t. In fact, he
almost seems to want to attract their
attention
In summer he is very confiding, often
coming to within few feet of one in a
chair. It is always possible to get a
close view of this bird by putting the
chair within foot or two of a sunken
bath.
We have watched song sparrows dip
themselves 48 times, before coming out,
each time followed by a lifting of the
wings, and turn around
This process will be repeated by others
so that the bathing finally may strike
a comical note in the mind Of the OBJ
server.
While there can be no question about
the superiority of this sparrow, many
observers work up real appreciation
for the English sparrow. In time they
come to realize that if hustle and hustle
are admirable traits in humans, they
ought to be among the birds, and that
much of the propaganda against the
species Is overdone. It's song is moi
the harsh chirp" often pictured, and
that it does not fight as much as has
been claimed
At bird feeding stations in the suburbs
English sparrows become very well be-
haved. They are larger than downtown
specimens, and their feathers are
brighter and cleaner
A flock of them taking dust bath!
makes q pretty sight. Dust baths alss
are appreciated by elephants, too. II
nature, such medium much resembles
the talcum powder which human being
sprinkle on themselves. The dust i
shaken of at the first fight, and carrie
with 1t much dirt and perhaps some lice