--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Parratt, D. W. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 1 published: 1916-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'D. W. Parratt, "Outlines for Scout Workers. XIV," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 1 (November 1916): 17–20.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2001unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2001unse start_page: 17 end_page: 20 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2001unse publication_year: 1916 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Outlines for Scout Workers. XIV — Outlines for Scout Workers By D. W. Parratt, B. S. XIV— The Mountain Song Sparrow A little cock sparrow sat on a tree, And he chirruped, and chirruped, so merry was he, But a naughty boy came with a small bow and arrow, Determined to shoot this little cock sparrow. "This little cock sparrow shall make me a stew," Said this naughty boy, "Yes, and a little pie, too." "Oh no!" said the sparrow, "I won't make a stew," So he fluttered his wings, and away he flew. Mother Goose. 1. Name at least three of our native sparrows. Why is each so named? 2. Song sparrows in general are found in what part of our country? Where is the mountain sparrow found? 3. Note the size and colorings of the mountain song sparrow and contrast the male and female birds in these respects. 4. Which bird, male or female, does the singing? Why? Describe the song. 5. Where and of what is the nest usually built? 6. Tell of the number, size, color, and markings of the eggs. 7. Upon what does our song sparrow subsist? 8. This sparrow is often mistaken for what other bird? How may it be distinguished from this other? 9. Should our song sparrow be protected? Give at least two reasons for your answer. Handy Material Glimmers gay with leafless thicket Close beside my garden gate, Where, so light, from post to wicket, Hops the sparrow, blithe, sedate; — ; 18 IMPROVEMENT ERA Who, with meekly folded wing, Comes to sun himself and sing. It was there, perhaps, last year, That his little house he built; For he seemed to perk and peer And to twitter, too, and tilt The bare branches in between, With a fond, familiar mien. George Parsons Lathrop The English is undoubtedly the best known of all our sparrows. He was brought to our country from England and is therefore an alien. Besides him, we have a number of different natives, chief among which are the lark, the sage, the chipping, and the song sparrows. All have conical bills and feed largely upon weed seeds. The first native mentioned bears a suggestive likeness to the lark and is therefore called the lark sparrow. The next is commonly found in and among our desert sage brush and consequently goes by the name of sage sparrow. The third seems fond of uttering "chip, chip, chip" notes and from this gets the name of chipping sparrow. And the last is referred to as the song sparrow on account of his rare ability as a musician. Some half dozen species of song sparrows are found scattered throughout most of North America. Mabel Osgood Wright aptly says, "Whether we live north, south, east, or west, we shall have this sweet singer with us, who will surely reveal himeslf and if we do not recognize his plumage, will sing his way straight into our hearts." The mountain song sparrow, however, is confined principally to the plateau regions of western United States. He measures ordinarily from five and one-half to six and one-half inches in length and is therefore slightly larger than the English sparrow. This difference is due mainly to tail measurements, for the song sparrow's tail is somewhat longer than that of the alien. In color he is lighter and in build more robust than his "English cousin." The little songster's attire is pleasing but subdued and is not the sort to win distinction at fancy bird shows. His pert head is ruddy brown with a gray line running backward through the center of his crown. His cheeks are gray with touches of brown. A light gray covers throat and breast. That of his throat is marked with blackish spots and of his breast with wedged-shaped streaks of sepia and red-brown. Some of these streaks run together in the central region and thus form a distinct blotch by which the song sparrow can be readily identified. In general appearance the female is much like the male, although in size she is somewhat smaller, in color a little paler, and her markings are not quite so pronounced. To her, as with most other female birds, falls the task of choosing the mate. She : OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 19 is therefore not put to the necessity of "dress parading" as is the case with the competing males in their efforts to attract admiring attentions from the opposite sex. In consequence, she has no particular need of the more contrasty and showy gowns. Her principal concern is nesting and rearing young and in this the less showy colors better serve as protection against lurking enemies. But while the contrasts in color and markings between male and female song sparrows are less noticeable than in most other birds, the difference is made up by the male with his remarkable voice. With song, he charms the attention and wins the affection of his coveted "little lady." He emphasizes music and places more reliance upon it than upon the art of dress. In speaking of him, H. Van Dyke writes He does not wear a Joseph's coat Of many colors, smart and gay; His suit is Quaker brown and gray With darker patches at the throat, And yet of all the well dressed throng Not one can sing so brave a song. Itmakes the pride of looks appear — A vain and foolish thing to hear His "Sweet-sweet-sweet-very merry cheer." Often his singing is heard in early March, even in advance of the bluebird's, and at times continues into cold December. The notes of his cheerful song are short, sweet, and much like those of the canary. Indeed, when heard from the distance, the song sparrow is often mistaken for the wild canary. Thoreau describes his song as, "Oilt, oilt, oilt; chip, chip, chicar; chewiss, wiss, wiss." He is one of the very few birds able to sing half a dozen songs each of which is constructively different from the others. Someone has interpreted one of these as: "Maids, maids, maids; hang on your teakettle-ettle-ettle." He devotes himself to pure melody and on dull, rainy days has been heard singing in a minor strain, thus matching his voice with the weather. He is called by Mathews, "Nature's cleverest song genius." The nest, usually built in May, is formed of dried rootlets, leaves, shreds of bark, coarse grasses, and sometimes hair, and is lined with similar but softer material. It is a loosely woven affair and is generally found on the ground or in low bushes in meadow or in canyon near a good supply of water. Under normal conditions, the supplied nest contains four b?uish or greenish white eggs. These are somewhat heavily marked with chestnut or lavender spots, especially at the larger ends. The eggs vary considerably in size, but the average is about three-quarters of an inch long and about one-half an inch — 20 IMPROVEMENT ERA thick. Two broods of young, as a rule, are reared each season. It is estimated that about three-fourths of the song sparrow's diet consists of noxious weed seeds and the remainder of troublesome insects. "Of these, beetles, especially weevils, constitute the major portion." It is needless to say the young nestlings live almost wholly upon insect food. Though a little shy, the song sparrow is quite trustful of mankind. He flocks at times with the English sparrow and is often mistaken by the unobserving for such. The difference between the throat and breast markings of the two birds should be ample to distinguish them apart. Our cpiarrelsome foreigner lacks the spotted breast and central blotch found on the peaceful songster. These characteristic markings, together with the songster's melody and long tail should be easily recognized by all. With this knowledge we would be in much better position to render the charming fellow better care and protection. And surely any bird giving such service to agriculturist, and music to all, is worthy of our best consideration. Mr. H. Pickering had the proper feeling for and attitude toward our little feathered friend when he wrote: The violet awakens at thy song, and peers from out Itsfragrant nook, as if the season yet remained in doubt; While from the rock the columbine its crimson bell suspends, That careless vibrates, as its slender stalk the zephyr bends. Oh, well I know why thou art here thus soon, and why the bowers So near the sun have lesser charms than now our land of flowers; — Thou art returned on a glad errand to rebuild thy nest, And fan anew the gentle fire that burned within thy breast. But thy sweet lay, thou darling of the spring! no ear disdains; Thy sage instructress, Nature, says, "Be gay!" and prompts thy strains. — Oh, if I knew like thee to sing like thee the heart to fire Youth should enchanted throng and beauty sue to hear my lyre.