302 FIXCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



is little of the Chippy's nature about them. In February or March 

 they begin to sing a song which has been compared to that of a Ca- 

 nary, but is " finer, sweeter, and not so loud." 



560. Spizella socialis ( >F*^s.). Chipping Sparrow; Chippy. Ad. 

 — Forehead black, a short grayish line in its middle ; top of the head rufous ; 



the nape generally with a few black streaks; a 

 grayish line over the eye and a black line behind 

 it; back of the neck grayish, separating the rufous 

 crown from the back ; back streaked with black, a 

 little rufous, and more pale butfy ochraceous ; rump 

 slati/ gray ; wing-bars not conspicuous ; under parts 

 grayish white, whiter on the throat and belly ; bill 

 Fig 86 —Chinning Soar- entirely tlaclc, Im. — Similar, but no rufous crown- 

 row. (.Natural t>ize.) cap or black on the forehead ; top of the head 



streaked like the back; bill brownish. Young in 

 first plumage have the breast streaked with black. L., 5-37 ; W., 2*74; T., 

 2-29 ; B., -36. 



Remarks. — In adults the rufous crown, black forehead, gray rump, and 

 black bill are characteristic; in the young the gray rump is a good distin- 

 guishing mark. 



Bange. — Eastern North America; breeds from tlie Gulf States to New- 

 foundland and Great Slave Lake ; winters in the Gulf States and Mexico. 



Washington, common S. R., abundant T. V., Mch. 15 to Nov. 1, occasion- 

 ally winters. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 9 to Nov. 7. Cambridge, abun- 

 dant S. R., Apl. 15 to Oct. 25. 



ISfest^ of grasses, line twigs, or rootlets, thickly lined with long hairs, in 

 trees or bushes, five to twenty feet up. I^ggs., four to five, blue or greenish 

 blue, with cinnamon-brown or blackish markings, chiefly at the larger end, 

 •72 X -51. 



The Chippy is among Sparrows what the Phoebe is among Fly- 

 catchers—the humblest, most unassuming member of its family. Both 

 show trustfulness, which, in spite of their unattractive appearance and 

 far from pleasing voices, wins our affection. 



Chippy makes his nest in the vines on our piazza, and feeds on the 

 crumbs at our doorstep, quite as though he were a member of the 

 family; and he needs only a little encouragement to give evidence of 

 his entire confidence in our good will by feeding from our hands. 



His song is a monotonous cMppy-chippy-chippy-chippy, rather high 

 and wiry and frequently running into an insectlike trill— by no means 

 a musical performance. 



In the fall Chippy changes his dress, dons a streaked cap for the 

 one of bright bay, and, with others of his kind, goes to the fields to 

 feast on the year's harvest of seeds. He is generally found near trees 

 and hedgerows, into which, when alarmed, he flies with his com- 

 panions. 



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