THE WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW. 129 
against the tool with additional force and serves to mark a single revolution, 
but the continuous burr which underlies the accented points, or trill-crests, 
is satisfied by this comparison alone. ‘The other effort, a peculiar buzz of 
varying intensity, carries forward the same idea of continuous sound, but 
the comparison changes. In this the song appears to pour from the tiny 
throat without effort, and its movement is as tho an unseen hand controlled 
an electric buzz, whose activity varies with the amount of “juice” turned on: 
PAZELICLLIN LLLEASSLLON, GEGELLLLLIN, LLLLLLLLLL, LLLLZLLLZZ2L1.. 
Chippy’s nest is a frail affair at best, altho often elaborately constructed 
of fine twigs, rootlets and grasses with a plentiful lining of horse-hair. In 
some instances the last-named material is exclusively employed. A sage- 
bush is the favorite situation on the plains of the Columbia, a horizontal fir 
branch in the wet country. Rose thickets are always popular, and where 
the bird frankly forsakes the wilds, ornamental shrubbery and vines are 
EES. . chosen. ‘The nests are often 
a so loosely related to their 1m- 
mediate surroundings as to 
give the impression of having 
been constructed elsewhere, 
and then moved bodily to 
their present site. Some are 
set as lightly as feathers upon 
the tips of evergreen branches, 
and a heavy storm in season 
is sure to bring down a shower 
of Chippies’ nests. 
Eges are laid during the 
first or second week of May 
in the vicinity of American 
Lake and from one to three 
weeks earlier in the sage 
country. They are among the 
most familiar objects in Na- 
ture, and particular descrip- 
tion of them ought to be unnec- 
essary. But every person who 
knows that we are interested 
in birds has to stop us on the 
street to tell about the “cunningest little nest, you know, with four of the 
cutest 7 “Fold on,” we say; “were the eggs blue?’ “Yes,” “With 
dots on them?” “Why, yes; how did you know ?” 
Incubation lasts only ten days and two broods are raised in each season. 
Taken near Chelan. Photo by the Author. 
“FOUR OF THE CUTEST —.” 
