FIELD SPARROW. • 91 



enough hair can be found for so many nests, as Chip- 

 ping Sparrows are very common and raise two or 

 three broods in a season. They build low, in a bush 

 or small tree, and the eggs, 4 to 5, are light blue, 

 somewhat speckled. 



Chippy's distinguishing mark is his red-brown cap. 

 When he feels like singing he chants his own name 

 rapidly, in a high key, cJiippy-chippy-chippy-chippy. 

 It is likely to be the first bird-sound at daybreak and 

 the last in the evening, and is sometimes given softly 

 in the night, as if to assure the brooding mate of his 

 protecting presence. 



Field Sparrow: Spizella pusilla. 



Length 5^ inches. 



Upper parts bright reddish-brown finely streaked with 

 black and ashy: crown and bill reddish-brown; whitish 

 wing-bars. 



Under parts white, unstreaked, and tinged with pale red- 

 dish-brown. 



Resident (common) all the year. 



The Field Sparrow^ is known by his red-browai 

 color, and especially by his reddish bill. He is a bird 

 of varied songs, all sweet and tuneful. Mr. Bur- 

 roughs gives one as fe-o, fc-o, fc-o, fczv, fezv, few, fee, 

 fee, fee, '" at first high and leisurely, but running very 

 rapidly towards the close, wdiich is low^ and soft." 

 There are two others commonly heard in Maryland, 

 one of which can be given very nearly on the piano. 

 Take C, then A below, G adjoining, and back to C. 

 Strike each key rather rapidly four times, except the 

 last, w^hich may be one note, three or five, and is some- 

 times trilled an octave higher, or it may be any other 

 note than C. It must be remembered that bird songs 



