480 CHTPPING SPARROW. 



species found as f:ir souIJi ;i:i Bine Spring, Floridii, arc mostly young, hut further north, 

 in the Carolinas, where those hinls are exceedingly abundant, the adults predominate. 

 I have mentioned, on page 1^9 of this work, that the adults of many birds wandered more 

 than the immature, but this species appears to reverse that rule. The adults remain be- 

 hind, in the colder climate, but the young push onward toward the warmer section of the 



country. 



While in their winter quarters, the Chipping Sparrows have no characteristic habits, 

 other than those exhibited by many of the Fringilline birds; neither do they have any note, 

 save the ordinary chirp of alarm. Tlien, to recognize them, one nmst observe quite closely. 

 T]y the middle of April, when they arri-\-e in Massachusetts, they forget the life of inactiv- 

 ity which they led in the enervating climate where they passed the winter, and display 

 much energy. At first the lively chipping song of the males is only to be heard at inter- 

 vals alon"' the hedge-rows wliich form a, favorite perch for the birds, but a few days later 

 every garden and lawn, tln-ongliout the State, will have its attendant fay in the form of a 

 Chipping Sparrow. 



They watch their domains very closely, seldom leaving the immediate vicinity of the 

 dwellings. As a natural result, fi-om associating so much with human beings, these lit- 

 tle Sparrows become exceedingly tame, being, in fact, half domesticated. They will hop 

 familiarly about the porch in search of crumbs and otiier bits of food, occasionally display- 

 in"- enough confidence in their friends to even venture across the threshold of the open 

 door. 



About the middle of May the females can be seen gathering material for their prettily 

 constructed nests, which are often placed on some tree in close proximity to the house. 

 The eggs are deposited about June 1, the young making their appearance by the 15. At 

 this time the Chipping Spiirrows are nearly insectivorous, feeding largely on such dcstruc- 

 ti\e insect lai-vtc as the canker ;ind currant worms. Although thus confennng a benefit 

 upon mankind, they are n;it always as useful, for they arc accused, and I fear justly, of 

 killing honey-liees for food. I have frequently seen several of them thus employed at one 

 time. They would alight on (he top of the hives or on some over-hanging limb, and dart 

 down at the returning or departing Ijees, like Flycatchers, then, having secured theii- prey, 

 would alight on the ground in order to beat it in pieces before swallowing it. I have ob- 

 served that the Chipping Sparrows assemble in the neighborhood of apiaries, in consid- 

 erable numbers. I have found twenty or more nests, in a single season, all built in an 

 orchard, near which stood several liivcs. 



In spite of the aliove-iiieutinued miscliievons propensity, our lively little friends are 

 general favorites, usually finding a hciirty welcome, and will amply reward the husband- 

 man, for the protection whicli lie aifords them, ))y destroying large quantities of exceed- 

 ingly noxious insects. 



By September, the young and adults flock to the cultivated fields in order to feed on 

 the newly-ripened seeds of weeds, which once more form tlieir principal diet. They then 

 associate with large numbers of other birds, such as the Field and Savannah Sparrows, 

 Grass Finch, and many other meud)ers of this family, departing with them when t[->".;^ mi- 

 ■tirate southward. 



