Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-08
This and That
E. Tr1ce1DeH.
BETHESDA, Md.


Dear Sir:
Please tell us something about the
song sparrow. 1t was long time before
I knew that this was anything but an
ordinary sparrow. A friend of ours was
calling, and seeing one in the yard, said
oh. there is song sparrow 1t was
right there that learned something.
Since then have been watching this
little fellow with great deal of interest
ana would like to know something about
It's habits. AS fine as this bird is. it has
not swayed me from my allegiance to
just plain sparrows.
"One thing I particularly like about
English sparrows is the great number of
them. The cardinals we must take by
one or two, but the plain sparrows we
have in flocks. and I think there is
something good in numbers.
Sincerely, H. G. S.
\ II
"Melodia" is one of the units of the
song sparrow's scientific name.
1t is good choice, for this is truly
melody maker.
1t Is said that more than 1000 differ
ent phrasings of its song have been set
down on paper
To most listeners it will seem very
much the same day after day, a cheer
ing sound in the cold, as this brave
little bird percheS on fence post or in
shrubbery.
One OF the fine things about the song
sparrow is that it not only is here with
us the year around, but that it more or
less sings all the time.
People love to tell about hearing the
cardinals cheering notes in early spring.
but at the same time they tend to forget
about the song sparrow.
Truly he is one of our best. about the
same size as the English species, with
upper parts brown and black in streaks,
the under parts white, streaked with
black.
The crown of the adult bird is brown.
narrowly streaked with black, and di-
vlded by narrow center stripe of gray.
The young are much like the adults,
but with little gray on the upper parts.
The streaks OF the underside are much
less distinct, and the white is mostly
buffy.
The song sparrow has a stubby bill
and what Is called strongly marked
breast. to distinguish it from common
house sparrows.
The bird loves to nest in barberry
hedges. where it places the nest not
more than two or three feet high.
We have always thought this site
shows superior intelligence. The cat
bird and redbird often select ordinary
bushes, into which cats can climb, but
the song sparrow, in choosing the bar
berry, secures an inpenetrable defense.
The nest, in fields, is often on the
ground.
It is small and well made, of leaves,
stems and grass, lined with fine grass
and hair, or the fun from vacuum
sweeper bags.
-Four or five pale green eggs are laid.
They are spotted with dark brown and
lavender.
The commonest form of this birds
fine song begins with two notes OF the
same pitch. followed by third about
four tones higher, after which comes a
rapid run downward.
Those who insist on putting human
values into bird music declare that the
song sparrow song expressed simple
faith and trust. Perhaps it does. At
any rate, it is a neat, well-patterned
song, capable, as SO many simple melo-
dies are, of variation.
Once a householder gets the song into
his head, he is delighted to hear it
summer and winter, at the most unex-
pected time
This bird is one Of the best, also, as
far as its food habits 60. It eats moth
ing but weed seeds and inimical insects.
1t Is said that the Western form will not
eat grasshoppers, where there are 30
many Of them, but that the Eastern
form eats them sreedily.