g NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



dusky tinge in the upper bill, wantiii<j; in pusilla, and the lores are almost always more or 

 less dusky in all stages of plumage. 



Hab. Eastern Province of North America; north to Great Slave Lake, and south to 

 Orizaba, Eastern Mexico, where it is resident. Oaxaca (perhaps var. arizonce), Jan. (Scl. 

 858, 304) ; Xalapa (Scl. 1859, 365) ; Cordova (Sou 1856, 305) ; Cuba (Lawr. 1860, VII., 

 1269). 



Habits. The common Chipping Sparrow, so familiar to all in the eastern 

 portion of the United States, is not only one of the most abundant, but one 

 of the most widely distributed of our North American birds. It is found 

 from the Atlantic to the Pacific in its two races, and breeds from Georgia 

 to the Arctic Circle. At different seasons of the year it is found in all por- 

 tions of North America to Mexico. Along the Atlantic coast it nests at 

 least as far north as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia ; in the extreme 

 northern portion of the latter Province I found it one of the most abundant 

 birds. 



The late Mr. Eobert Kennicott met with them in considerable numbers at 

 Tort Resolution, on Great Slave Lake, and there he obtained quite a number 

 of their nests, all of which were in trees or bushes, from two to three feet 

 above the ground. These were all met with between the 1st and the 26th 

 of June. Mr. B. E. Ptoss also met with these birds in considerable numbers 

 at Fort Simpson and at Fort Rae. 



On the Pacific coast the Chipping Sparrow is stated by Dr. Cooper to be 

 quite as abundant in the northern parts of California, and in Oregon and 

 Washington Territory, as on the Atlantic coast. He found them wintering 

 in the Colorado Valley in large numbers, but met with none about San Diego. 

 They spend their summers in the northern part of California, building their 

 nests, as with us, in the shrubbery of the gardens, and coming familiarly 

 about the doorsteps to pick up crumbs. In autumn they collect in large 

 flocks, and frequent the open fields and pastures. Dr. Cooper found them in 

 flocks on Catalina Island in June, but could discover no nests. They were 

 all old birds, and the conclusion was that they had delayed their more north- 

 ern migrations. 



Dr. Suckley found this species extremely abundant in the open districts 

 on the Columbia River, as well as upon the gravelly prairies of the Pugef 

 Sound district. It is not named as having been met with by Mr. Dall or 

 any of the Ptussian Telegraph party in Alaska. 



It was found in abundance during the summer by Mr. Ridgway in all the 

 wooded portions of the country of the Great Basin. He did not meet with 

 any among the cottonwoods of the river- valleys, its favorite haunts appear- 

 ing to be the cedars and the nut-pines of the mountains. In July and 

 August, in such localities, on the East Humboldt Mountains, it was not only 

 the most numerous species, but also very abundant, nesting in the trees. 

 About the middle of August they congregated in large numbers, preparing for 

 their departure. 



