TREE SPARROW 227 



sits upon the summit of a liaycock in the meadow. 

 The greater portion of its time is passed in the 

 grass, in which it runs from the intruder, unseen, 

 like a mouse ; or, if jDressed too closely, rises sud- 

 denly and flies a greater or less distance in a zig- 

 zag manner." Mr. Chapman gives its song as 

 pit-tuck^ zee-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e. 



In Maryland I have watched the Grasshopper 

 while it sang undisturbed on a fence rail only a 

 few rods away ; but when it wanted to fly down 

 to its nest it would crane its neck and jet its 

 quaint short, pointed tail nervously. 



Tree Sparrow ; Winter Chippy : Spizella montkola. 



Top of head reddish brown ; sinall black spot on centre of breast ; 

 back streaked with reddish brown ; breast washed with brown- 

 ish ; upper half of bill black, lower half yellow. Length, 

 about (S\ inches. 



Geographic Distkibution. — Eastern North America ; breeds 

 in Labrador and the region about Hudson Bay ; south in win- 

 ter through eastern United States ; west to the edge of the 

 Great Plains. 



There are two birds with which the Tree Spar- 

 row might possibly be confused — the Chipping 

 and Field Sparrows, although it is much larger 

 than either. If one knows what to look for, how- 

 ever, the Field can easily be distinguished by its 

 reddish bill, and the Chippy aiyl Tree told apart 

 by the indistinct black spot on the centre of tlie 

 breast of the Tree. Of course none of the three 

 can be confused with the Song Sparrow, because 



