UTILITY OF BIRDS TO AGRICULTURE. 117 



and various insects now [in spring] constitute their only food." 

 The nest of this species is placed on a horizontal branch of a 

 tree, and is built of roots, grasses, leaves and grape-vine bark. 

 Eggs, four or five in number, are of a bluish-white color, and 

 are marked with spots of black and brown. 



Vireosylvia olivacea — Bonaparte. 



The Red-eyed Yireo. — This little bird is deservedly a great 

 favorite. Its beautiful plaintive song may be heard at any hour 

 of the day during the summer, as it searches through the elm 

 and other trees for caterpillars and various other noxious in- 

 sects. The nest of this bird is a wonder of ingenuity and 

 beauty. It is constructed of pieces of wasp's nests, bits of 

 paper, spiders' webs, and thin pieces of bark. These are woven 

 together, and glued by the bird's saliva, in the form of a basket, 

 and sewed firmly to the fork of some small branch of a tree. 

 Eggs are four in number, pure white, with spots at larger end 

 of brown and black. 



Spizella socialis — Bonaparte. 



Chipping Sparrow. — This is a very common and well known 

 bird, since it seems to take delight in associating with man, and 

 is to be found nesting near his habitations. The nest includes 

 a few fine grasses, but the chief substance used is horsehair. 

 The eggs are four or five in number, bluish-green in color, 

 and marked with spots of black and brown, thickest at the 

 greater end. This bird is beneficial, subsisting largely on 

 insects. 



Melospiza melodia — Baird. 



Song Sparrow. — This bird takes its name from its beautiful 

 song, which is heard from early spring to the middle of Octo- 

 ber. Its habits are beneficial. The nest is placed sometimes 

 on the ground, and sometimes on bushes or small trees, and is 

 built of grasses and weeds. Eggs are four or five in number, 

 and are of a dirty-white color, spotted with different shades of 

 brown, thickest at greater end. Two broods are reared in 

 a season. 



PlPILO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS — Vielllot. 



Ground Robin, Chewink. — This bird has a peculiar note 

 resembling the syllables " che-wink," hence its name. It is a 



