Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 175, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1915 — SONG SPARROW AN OPTIMIST [ARTICLE]

SONG SPARROW AN OPTIMIST

Cheery Bird, Permanent Resident, Asks Little for Services, Which Are Valuable. The song sparrow, cheery-voiced forerunner of spring, is the subject of an article by Miss Harriet E. Bancroft, which appears in the Ohio Arbor and Bird Day Manual, issued by the state department of public instruction for use in the schools. In telling about the song sparrow Miss Bancroft says: “There are so many different kinds of small, sober-hued birds, which look alike, and yet are not alike, that you wonder how you are to distinguish this one from the others. Each bird has his recognition mark and song sparrow’s is the spot in the middle of his speckled breast; and while in color he is of the earth, earthy, and bears upon his breast a spot, you must not think that these are the outward signs of an inward blemish, because he hasn’t any. , "There is great variation in the habits of different sparrows with respect to migration. The tree sparrow is with us only In winter, the field sparrow is a summer bird, the whitecrowned migrant; that is, he pays us a short visit in the spring and again in the fall, while on his way to more remote regions; but song sparrow is a permanent resident in nearly all parts of the state. He shares with us the storms as well as the sunshine of the rounded year. “His cone-shaped bill tells you that he is a seed-eating bird and the weeds yield him a plentiful supply of them. He also eats slugs and worms and ground-inhabiting Insects when they are to be had, and his choice of diet makes him a valuable assistant to the farmer. He helps him in his warfare on troublesome weeds and harmful insects. “It is not too much to say that whoevei or whatever helps the farmer to grow better crops, helps the whole world along; but song sparrow’s services do not stop here; his finest is that which he renders to our weary spirits when he cheers them with his song. For all the help he Ogives he asks nothing in return but the privilege of living out his little life unmolested. “It is said that he and his mate will raise three and even four broods in a season, if the weasels, the red squirrels, the cats, the crows, the hawks, the blacksnakes and other ill-disposed creatures do not harry their lowly nest, which distressing occurrence is all too frequent.”