"Some morning in early spring, when the Chickadees who have wintered about the Farm are growing restless, and about ready to go to a more secluded spot to nest, you will hear a sweet persuasive whistling song coming from a clump of bushes. What is it? Not a Bluebird, or a Robin. The notes are too short and simple for a Song Sparrow or a Thrush, too plaintive for a Wren, and too clear for a lisping Wood Warbler. [Illustration: White-Throated Sparrow.] "Presently several White-throats fly down to a bit of newly seeded lawn or patch of wild grass, where they feed industriously for a few minutes, giving only a few little call-notes--'t'sip, t'sip'--by way of conversation. Then one flies up into a bush and sings in a high key. What does he say--for the song of two short bars surely has words? One person understands it one way, and thinks the bird says 'all-day whittling, whittling, whittling!' Some one else hears 'pe-a--peabody--peabody--peabody!' While to me the White-throat always says '_I_ work--cleverly, cleverly, cleverly--poòr mè--cleverly, cleverly, cleverly!'" As the Doctor paused a moment, Rap whistled an imitation of the song, throwing the sound far from him after a fashion that the Chat has, so that it seemed to come from the trees, completely deceiving Dodo. "Uncle, uncle!" she whispered, creeping softly up to him, "one of the White-throats must have stayed until now, for that bird says 'cleverly! cleverly! cleverly!'" Rap was delighted at the success of his imitation, and Nat and Dodo tried to whistle with him, Dodo being the most successful. "Oh! oh! what happens to whistling girls?" said Nat, who was a little provoked at her success. "Nothing at all," said Olive, "when they only whistle bird-songs. I've whistled to birds ever since I could pucker up my lips, and father taught me how--didn't you, father dear? Only you used to say, 'Never whistle in public places.'" "I believe I did; and Rap shall teach you, Dodo, so you can call a bird close to you by imitating its song." The White-throated Sparrow Length about six and a half inches. Striped on the back with bay, black, and gray; two white crossbars on each wing, the edge of which is yellow; two white stripes on the black crown, and a yellow spot before the eye. Gray below, more slate-colored on the breast, with a pure white throat, which is bounded by little black streaks. A Summer Citizen of the Northern States and beyond. Spends the winter in the Middle and Southern States. Belongs to the guild of Weed Warriors, and is a bright, cheerful, useful bird. THE CHIPPING SPARROW (THE CHIPPY. THE SOCIABLE BIRD)