116 SONG SPABEOW 



gypsj^-moth caterpillars, and particularly affects 

 cutworms and army worms, two of our worst in- 

 sect pests. Combining insect with vegetable food 

 in this way, the Chippy does not find it necessary 

 to go as far south for his winter supplies as exclu- 

 sively insectivorous birds, and so we find him, in 

 comj^any with other short-winged seed-eaters, win- 

 tering in the Gulf states and Mexico, while the 

 Swift and many of the Flycatchers go on to Cen- 

 tral America. As a family, the Sparrows are very 

 musical ; and though the Chii)py is not a gifted 

 member of the choir, when he sits on a tree in the 

 sun, with his soft feathers fluffed up about him, 

 even his monotonous little trill has a cheery sum- 

 mer sound. 



Song Sparrow : Melospiza fasciata. 



Upper parts browoi, streaked with black ; under parts -vrliite: 

 streaked with black, and with a dark central blotch on breast. 

 Length, about 6j inches. 



Geographic Distribution. — Eastern North America ; breeds 

 from northern Illinois and Virginia north to Quebec and 

 Manitoba ; winters from southern Illinois and Massachusetts 

 to the Gulf states. No considerable area of the United States 

 is without one of the geographic races of the Song Sparrow. 



The Song Sparrow is another of our common- 

 est birds. It is larger than Chippy, and its clan 

 instead of wearing red caps usually wear black but- 

 tons on their white-striped vests (Figs. 55, 58). 



Beino' veo'etarians in winter, thev are able to 

 abide in the north ; and even in Illinois and Mas- 



