AVES — SPARROW. 537 



of this bird has never yet been seen by any naturalist, although they breed in 

 the United States. Mr Audubon saw them feeding their young, who could 

 not have been more than a few days old. The same author informs us that 

 they frequently associate with the common crossbills. 



THE SONG SPARROW. i 



The song sparrow is the most generally diffused over the United States, 

 and is the most numerous of all our sparrows ; and it is far the earliest, 

 sweetest, and most lasting songster. Many of them remain during the whole 

 winter in close sheltered meadows and swamps. It is the first singing bird 

 in spring. Its song continues through the summer and fall, and is sometimes 

 heard even in the depths of winter. The notes or chant are short but very 

 sweet, and frequently repeated, from a small bush or tree, where it sits chant- 

 ing for an hour together. It is fond of frequenting the borders of rivers, 

 meadows and swamps ; and if wounded and unable to fly, will readily take 

 to the water, and swim with considerable rapidity. 



The song sparrow builds in the ground under a tuft of grass ; the nest is 

 formed of dry grass and horse-hair. It sometimes also builds in a cedar 

 tree, five or six feet from the ground. It is six inches and a half long, and 

 is of a chesnut color, marked and streaked with dirty white ; the breast is 

 spotted with pointed spots of chesnut. 



THE CHIPPING SPARROWS 



Is, perhaps, more generally known, and more familiar and domestic even, 

 than the preceding species. He inhabits the city in summer, building in the 

 branches of the trees in the streets and gardens, and gleaning v > crumbs 

 from the yard and door. This sociable habit, which continues chiefly during 

 summer, is a singular characteristic. Towards the end of the summer, he 

 takes to the fields and hedges, until the weather becomes severe, when he 

 departs for the south. The chipping bird builds his nest most commonly in 

 a bush, and lines it with cow hair. This little bird is five inches and a 

 quarter long , the frontlet is black, crown chesnut, the upper parts are varie- 

 gated with black and chesnut, and the under parts pale ash. 



1 Fring-iUa melodia, Wilson. s Fringilla socialis, Wilson. 



68 



