FRIXUILLID.E — TUK KTXCllES. 7 



more care and neatness of interweaving. Tlie eggs are nsnally five in num- 

 ber, of an oblong-oval shape. The ground is a whitish clay-color, marked 

 more or less fully witli blotches of a ferruginous-brown. In some these 

 markings are few, and arranged only about the larger end. In others they 

 are generally diffused, and impart a deep ferruginous color to the whole egg, 

 and disguise or conceal the ground. They vary also in size, — in length 

 from .70 to .63 of an inch, and in breadth from .5:^ to .5U. Their usual size 

 is .70 by .52. 



Two nests of this bird taken in Lyiui, Mass., by Mr. George 0. Welch, are 

 characteristic of their usual style in architecture. One of these has a diam- 

 eter of four and a heiglit of two and a half inches. Its base, as well as the 

 great mass of its periphery, is made of a very loose intertwining of mi- 

 nute stems of vegetables and dry grasses. The ends of these project from the 

 exterior of the nest at the upper rim, and present a very peculiar apjDearance, 

 as of an enclosure of palisades. The interior is lined with horsehair. The 

 other is made of similar materials, of a less rigid character and closer tex- 

 ture. Its rim presents the same peculiarities of projecting ends, arranged 

 like a fence above the nest itself. Its dimensions also are aliout the same. It 

 is, however, much more compactly constructed, with thicker walls and a less 

 open network of dry grasses, and stiff wiry stems of di-ied plants intermixed 

 with a few pine leaves. The whole is very carefully and warndy lined 

 with horsehair and the softer fur of small quadrupeds. These nests con- 

 tained, one three, and the other four eggs. 



Spizella socialis, Bonap. 



CHIPPING SPARROW ; CHIPPY. 



Friiujilla socialis, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 127, pi. .xvi, i. 5. — AuD. Oni. Biog. II, 

 1834, 21 ; V, 517, pi. civ. Si>izeUa socialis, BoN. List, 1838. —Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 

 480. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 473. — Coopeh & Sucklet, 203. — Samuels, 320. 

 Emberiza socialis, AuD. Syu. 1839. —Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 80, pi. cl.xv. Spinites 

 socialis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133. 



Sp. Char. Rump, back of neck, and .'sides of neck and head, a.«hy. Interecapiilar 

 region with l)lacl< sti'eaks, margined with pale rufous. Crown continuous and uniform 

 chestnut. Forehead black, separated in the middle by white. A white streak over the 

 eye to nape, and a black one from the base of the bill through and behind the eye. Lores 

 dusky. L'nder parts unspotted whitish, tinged with ashy on the sides and across the 

 upper breast. Tail-feathers and primaries edged with paler, not white. Two narrow 

 white bands acro.ss the wing-coverts. Bill black. Length, 5.75; wing, nearly 3.00; tail, 

 2.50 (or le.s.s). 



Young. Immature birds and frequently the adult females with the cap streaked with 

 blackish lines, the chestnut nearly or sometimes quite wanting. Birds of the year slicakcd 

 beneath and on rump. 



The color of bill varies; .sometimes entirely lilack throughout, sometimes very light (but 

 never reddish as in S. jmsiUa), with all intermediate stages. Thei-e is usually, however, a 



