1168 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 i^art 2 



viduals of their own kind, or in flocks of Eastern Field and Allegheny Song 

 sparrows. They could be found about weed patches, weedy and vine-entangled 

 fence rows, and brushy thickets near woodlands. After mid-April individuals 

 and pairs were most frequently observed on lawns, in trees, in shrubbery, and in 

 fields, and about farmhouses, cottages, and villages. In the spring the species 

 preferred uplands and well-drained situations. 



The average date Walkinshaw (1944b) reports for first arrivals in 

 southern Michigan is April 13. Roberts (1936) gives April 5 as an 

 average arrival date in southern Minnesota. In central Saskatchewan, 

 over a 4-year period, the average for first arrivals fell in the 2nd week 

 in May (Houston 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956). Usually within 2 weeks 

 after the fu-st arrivals the males are on their territories. 



Territory. — The following description of territory is quoted from 

 Walkinshaw (1944b): 



When first observed eacli spring male Chipping Sparrows have been already 

 attached to certain territories, which they proclaim by singing from some perch 

 during most of the daylight hours. In Battle Creek they were not always com- 

 pletely surrounded by other Chipping Sparrows, so that their territories, although 

 limited on one or more sides, were quite flexible on the others. Territorial defense 

 consisted chiefly in chasing intruders, which then usually left at once. I have 

 often observed a trespasser depart on the mere approach of the resident male 

 with wings slightly lowered and feathers slightly raised * * * q^ one occasion 

 a resident male drove away a trespassing female. 



Louise de Kiriline LaA\Tence has submitted the following notes on 

 an encounter she observed between an invading male and a pair that 

 had just fledged its first nestlings: "A chase, then halt on twigs 

 with the strange male singing loudly and vigorously several songs. 

 Chase again, then halt on twigs followed by impudent singing by the 

 strange male and the home male silent. This has gone on for several 

 hours (it went on from 1 p.m. until night-fall) with only short intervals 

 for feedings. Both birds were panting from the heat and exertion 

 * * *. Sometimes the female takes part in the chasing." Mrs. 

 Lawrence adds that the next day the strange male had retired from 

 the scene and the pair was busy building the second nest. 



My own observations made in Itasca State Park, Minn., indicate 

 that the female defends at least the area of the nest tree. Two in- 

 stances occurred while I was trying to trap the parent birds for band- 

 ing, using the nestlings to lure the parents into the trap. In the 

 first instance I had placed the male in a cage to keep him out of the 

 trap and thrown a jacket over the cage. A neighboring unmated 

 male soon entered the territory and sang. As it approached the nest 

 tree, it stopped and sang at intervals. The female was at the nest and 

 paid no attention until he entered the tree adjacent to the nest tree. 

 She then attacked and he retreated to his own territory. On the 

 second occasion, with a different pair, I released the male from the 



