208 SIXGIXG RIUDS — OSCIXKS. 



eye, and a black one from the base of the bill throiif^h and behind the eye. Under parts 

 unspotte<l whitish, tinged with ashy, especially across the n])per breast. Tail feathers and 

 primaries edged with paler, not white. Two narrow white bands across the wing coverts. 



Bill black. Length, 5.60 ; extent, 8.75 ; wing, 2.87. Iris brown ; bill black, lielow brown ; 

 feet whitish. 



Hah. North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 



This truly sociaVile little sparrow, commonly known as the " chippy," from 

 its short and constant chirp, is quite as abundant in the northern part of Cali- 

 fornia, and north at least to lat. 49°, as on the Atlantic side of the continent. 

 I found them winterinp; in the Colorado Yalley in large numbers, but not 

 near San Diego. It is, however, quite probable tluit they winter in other 

 parts of the interior, as they reach San Francisco by the first of April with- 

 out appearing at San Diego. They spend the summer, and build in all the 

 northern half of the State, preferring the vicinity of oak groves and gardens, 

 coming familiarly aliout the doorstep to pick up crumlis, and building their 

 nest in low liranches of fruit-trees or garden shrul)s. It is neatly formed of 

 grass, rather thinly interwoven, and lined almost always with horse-hairs. 

 The eggs are four or five, bright greenish-blue, with a few light and dark 

 brown spots, chiefly at the larger end. They raise two or even three broods 

 annually, in the Atlantic States. 



The only song of this bird is a low trill, usually heard from the top of a 

 tree during the still warm morning. 



In airtumn tliey collect into large flocks, and frequent ojien woods, pas- 

 tures, etc. I found flocks of them on Catalina Island in June, luit could 

 discover no nests, and, as they were all old birds, concluded that they for 

 some reason had forgotten to migrate. 



Dr. Coues found this species breeding abundantly at Fort '\^^lipple, Ari- 

 zona, arriving there in INIarch, and remaining until Xovember. In a large 

 series of skins collected by liim, he found a decided difl'erence in the young 

 from those of Eastern specimens, the color of the crown being more like that 

 of S. monticola. As, however, tlie adults of the two regions could not be 

 distinguished from each other, he did not venture to give the Arizona bird 

 a separate name. 



