266 FRINGILLID^ : FINCHES. 



neighbors above rattle down. At such times the whole 

 company keep up an animated conversation, express- 

 ing their satisfaction, no doubt, in their own language ;' 

 it is more than chirping, and not quite singing — a 

 low, soft, continuous chanting, as pleasing as it is 

 indescribable. The Tree Sparrow is, indeed, one of 

 the sweet-voiced of our Sparrows, and one very fond 

 of singing, not only in the spring, but at ether sea- 

 sons ; times are hard with it indeed when it cannot, 

 on occasion, tune its gentle pipe." 



The Tree Sparrow is said to nest indifferently upon 

 trees, bushes, or the ground. The eggs are not at all 

 like those of the Chip-bird, more resembling those of 

 Song Sparrows, being of a vague bluish-green ground 

 color, speckled and blotched with different shades of 

 reddish-brown, and having the endless variations of 

 style which Song Sparrow eggs are so w^ell known to 

 present. They measure about 0.80x0.60. 



CHIPPING SPARROW, OR HAIR-BIRD. 



Spizella domestica {Bartr.) Coues. 



Chars. Adult : Bill black ; feet pale ; crown bright chestnut ; fore- 

 head black ; a pale supraciliary line, and below this a dusky stripe 

 through the eye. Under parts pale ash, without marks. Back 

 streaked with black, bay, and grayish-brown, the inner seconda- 

 ries and wing-coverts similarly variegated, with two whitish cross- 

 bars ; rump dark ash ; primaries and tail-feathers dusky, pale- 

 edged, without strong markings. Sexes similar: in the young 

 the bill is not black, the crown is streaked like the back, and the 

 breast and sides are thickly streaked with dusky. Length, ^5.25- 

 5.50 ; extent, 8.00 : wing, 2.75 ; tail, 2.50. J 



