The Chipping Sparrow {spizeiia passenna) 



By T. Gilbert Pearson 



Length: 5j4 inches. 



Range: Eastern North America, west to the Rocky Mountains, north to 

 Great Slave Lake, and south to eastern Mexico. 



In the United States are about forty kinds of useful, interesting birds 

 called sparrows. Besides the English sparrow, which is not included in the 

 foregoing statement, the one known to more persons than any other is the 

 little confiding chipping sparrow. It is the bird that more than any other, 

 perhaps, shows its absolute trust in mankind. It seems not to care for the deep 

 forest, the windy beaches, the vast marshes, or the impenetrable swamps where 

 so many of the feathered denizens of the land are wont to live. 



If you look for the chipping sparrow, particularly in spring, go to the 

 garden, for you can find it there, hopping along the rows of sprouting vege- 

 tables. It does not injure any of these tender plants — in fact you may consider 

 yourself fortunate if one or more pairs make their home in your garden, 

 for they will be familiar and delightful friends. 



You will find it in the apple-orchard, by the roadside, and on the lawn. 

 It will fly up in front of you as you pass along the gravel walk, and will alight 

 on the veranda-railing and look inquiringly at you as you emerge from the 

 door. It is an unobtrusive bird, and really has no human interest, so far as I 

 am aware. One may love or may ignore the chipping sparrow, but where is the 

 person who dislikes this friendly bird? It does not get in the way; it does 

 not fill your gutters with dry leaves and trash; and its simple, chipping notes 

 are so low that they would never aw^aken one of a morning. 



I have always liked the chipping sparrow, it is so like a good woman I 

 once knew, who, though very plain and somewhat unimaginative, was neverthe- 

 less considerate, thoughtful and very gentle. Many persons did not notice her, 

 but those who did always spoke kindly of her. 



This is one of the birds that has greatly increased since white men settled 

 the country, for the cultivation of fields and gardens has furnished it just the 

 proper amount of protection, and an abundance of the right kind of food. 



The trees and bushes that men plant in orchards and on their lawns pro- 

 vide splendid places for the chipping sparrow to build its nest. 



The cradle for the babies is a very dainty structure. It is made of dry 

 grasses, with a few small twigs to strengthen and support it. In the center of 

 this one will find a smooth cup lined deeply with horsehair, where four or 

 five pale blue or greenish eggs are laid. Scattered about over the surface of 

 the shell, but particularly numerous around the larger end, is a sprinkling of 

 black or brownish spots. A variety of situations is chosen, so that we may 

 find a nest near the end of a swaying bough or saddled among the twigs of 



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