272 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



individuals of this species is not excelled for sweetness Ly any 

 bird notes, while during the love season, says Dr. Brewer, "the 

 Tree Sparrow is quite a tine musician, its song resembling that of 

 the Canary, but finer, sweeter, and not so loud." According to Mr. 

 Brewster, "their song is a loud, clear and powerful chant, starting 

 with two high notes, then falling rapidly, and ending with a low, 

 sweet warble." After mentioning the fact that this species is, in 

 northeastern Illinois, an "abundant winter resident about thickets 

 and in marshes," and that it "arrives the 15th of October and departs 

 the 1st of April," Mr. Nelson, in his list (p. 108) thus appropriately 

 describes their song: 



"The first of March they collect in large flocks and are very 

 musical. Often a large portion of the flock will unite in song 

 which, although it may be more than equaled later in the season, 

 yet, coming as it does between winter and spring, and so totich- 

 ingly plaintive, one involuntarily stops to listen with a peculiar 

 feeling of pleasure." 



Spizella socialis (Wils.) 



CHIPPING SPAEEOW. 

 Popular synonyms. Chippy, Chip-bird; Hair-birU. 



FringiUa socialis Wixs. Am. Oru. ii.lSlU, 127, ph IG, flg. 5.— NuTT. Man. i, 1832, 497.— AuD. 

 Orn. Biog. li, 1834,21; v, 1839. 517. pi. IW. 

 Emheriza socialis AUD. Synop. 1839,105; B. Am. iii,1841,80, pi. Itj5. 



Spizella socialis'BF. lS-38.— Baied, B. N. Am. 1858, 473; Cu:. N.Am. B. 1859. No. 359.— 

 CouES, Key, 1872,142; Check List, 1873, No. 178; B. N. W. 1874, 148.— B. B. & R. Hist. 

 N. Am. B. ii, 1874,7, pi. 27, fig. 1. 

 Spizella domestica "(Baktk.)" Coues, Proc. Phil. Ac. 2d Check List. 1882, No. 2G9.— 

 BiDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 211. 



Hab. Eastern North America, north to the "Fur Countries, " wintering in Southern 

 States, Cuba, and eastern Mexico. In the western United States and the greater part of 

 Mexico, replaced by tlie slightly but constantly different .S'. socialis arizonce. 



"Sp. Chak. Rump, back of nock, and sides of head and neck, ashy. Interscapular 

 region with black streaks, margined witli pale rufous. Crown continuous and uniform 

 chestnut. Forehead black, separated in the middle by white. A white streak over the 

 eye to nape, and a black one from the base of the bill through and behind the eye. Lores 

 dusky. Upper parts un.spotted whitish, tinged with ashy on the sides and across the 

 upper breast. Tail-feathers and primaries edged with paler, not white. Two narrow 

 white bands across the wing-coverts. Bill black. Length, 5.75; wing, nearly 3.00; tail, 

 2.50 (or less). 



"Young. Immature birds and frequently theadult fem.ales with the cap streaked with 

 blackish lines, the chestnut sometimes nearly or quite wanting. Birds of the year 

 streaked beneatli and on rump. 



"The color of bill varies; sometimes entirely black throughout, sometimes very light 

 (but never reddish a.s in .S'. ptisilla). with all intermediate stages. There is usually, how- 

 ever, a dusky tinge in the upper bill, wanting in piisilla, and tlie lores are almost always 

 more or less dusky in all stages of plumage." {Hist. N. Am. li.) 



