90 CHIPPING SPARROW 



His known haunts near the city are the wild fields 

 about Rock Creek Church and Soldiers' Home, and 

 those between Arlington and the Potomac. He is 

 also common at Falls Church and Kensington. He 

 keeps close in the weeds and must be hunted with 

 patience and perseverance. 



The nest is on the ground in a tuft of grass, and 

 the eggs, 4 to 5, are greenish-white, thickly speckled 

 with reddish-brown. Dr. Richmond says, " The nest 

 of both this and the Grasshopper Sparrow are so 

 thoroughly concealed that expert students are often 

 unable to find them." His song is given by Mr. Jouy 

 as Sis-r-r-rit — srit-srit, with the accent on the first 

 and last syllables. He often sings on moonlight 

 nights. 



Chipping Sparrow; Hairbird: Spisella socialis. 



Length sYa inches. 



Upper parts brownish, streaked with black; forehead 

 black; top of head bright chestnut. 



Under parts grayish-white, unmarked. 



Resident (abundant) from March 15 to November; win- 

 ters in the Gulf States and Mexico. 



Chippy is the smallest and most friendly of our 

 common Sparrows. He might be called the little 

 children's bird, he is so tame, and always on the 

 ground about the house and garden. Noisy plays do 

 not disturb him, and he will come almost within reach 

 of the shortest arms, busily looking for food or hunt- 

 ing -stuff for his pretty nest. If bits of string are left 

 in his way some will be found woven in or attached 

 as ornament. He gets the name of Hairbird from the 

 quantity of hair used in lining the nest, usually horse 

 hair, or that from a cow's tail. One wonders that 



