hence "Peabody-bird." In spring and fall it occurs 

 in loose, roving flocks in bushy places. 



559. Tree Sparrow — Spizella monticola monti- 

 cola. 



Length 6^i inches. 



Top of head rufous-brown, a stripe of the same 

 behind eye ; two white wing-bars ; breast grayish 

 white, an indistinct black spot in its center;, sides 

 tinged with grayish brown; middle of belly white; 

 lower mandible yellow at base; outer tail feather 

 edged with whitish. (See cut, page 73.) 



A bird of spring and fall. Inhabits wayside 

 thickets, alder thickets and other bushy tracts. Not' 

 distinctively a tree-bird ; spends much of its time 

 on the ground. Has a pretty spring song; its- 

 usual call-note is a low chirp. 



560. Chipping Sparrow — Spizella passerina 

 passerina. 



Small. Length 5^ inches. 



Top of head rufous ; a pale line over eye and a 

 black line behind eye; underparts grayish white - , 

 without spots, whiter on throat and belly; back 

 streaked with black and buffy; two narrow wing- 

 bars. 



This is the common "Chippy" — the tame little 

 bird that creeps daintily about the door-yard and 

 lawn and lets you approach within a few feet of 

 him. His song is a fine trilling and his call-note is 

 a daintier little chirp than is usual with sparrows.. 

 The nest is a little cup-like affair, heavily lined 

 with hair; this lining has a way of holding its 

 shape when dislodged by the autumn winds, and 

 it is then often found where it has fallen to the 

 ground from a bush or tree. 



563. Field Sparrow — Spizella pusilla pusilla. 

 Small. Length 5^4 inches. 



Top of head rufous, a gray line over eye; bill 

 pale reddish brown; back rufous, finely streaked 



70 



