228 LAND BIRDS 
dauntless courage, and allowed me to touch her before 
she could be induced to leave her nest, when the speckled 
egos were laid. She was a fluffy, fascinating bit of soft 
grayish brown and buffy, with sparkling eyes that flashed 
indignant protest at my intrusion. After ten days, when 
those small eggs had hatched into nestlings, the life of 
both parents was full of care. The nestlings were fed 
by regurgitation for the first few days. After that in- 
sects of many sorts, and seed, were brought to the nest 
at surprisingly short intervals, yet those young Chippies 
were never satisfied; and long after they were well 
feathered and out of the nest they followed the parents 
about, begging constantly for food. They were exquis- 
itely proportioned little creatures, from the time the thin 
fuzz began to show on their bald heads until they were 
clothed in soft brown feathers, like the adults. 
The call note of this bird is a thin, shrill “ chip, chip,” 
which has given it its name. The fact that, wherever 
placed, the nest is always beautifully lined with horse- 
hair, has won for it the nickname of “ Hair Bird ” in the 
Kast, and this name is equally applicable to the Western 
variety, though less frequently applied to it. 
562. BREWER SPARROW. — Spizella breweri. 
Famity: The Finches, Sparrows, etc. 
Length: 5.00-5.60. 
Adults: Entire upper parts grayish brown, streaked with blackish, less 
distinct on head and ear-coverts ; under parts soiled grayish ; winter 
plumage more buffy. 
Young: Similar to adult, but chest and sides streaked with dusky ; 
upper parts less distinctly streaked ; wings with two distinct bands. 
