INSESSORES. 339 



observed, from Mexico to Connecticut. The individuals seem 

 to move off in a sulky mood, and in so concealed a way, that 

 their winter-quarters are yet unknown." The FIELD BUNTING, 

 E. pusilla, (Lat. very small, or weak,) breeds from Maryland to 

 Maine. It is social and peaceable, and trills its notes like a 

 young Canary Bird. In length it is six inches. 



THR CHIPPING BUNTING, or CHIP-BIRD, E. socialis, (Lat. so- 

 cial,) is known to all. It is confined to the United States and 

 the adjacent Eastern provinces; associating with the Song 

 Sparrow, or Finch, Fringilla melodia, and other birds of the same 

 genus. The Chip-Bird builds its nest on some low bush and 

 lines it with cow-hair; lays from four to five bright greenish 

 blue eggs, spotted with brown chiefly at the larger end. It 

 seerns determined to make up in quantity any defect in the 

 quality of its notes, for it sings all the day long. It migrates to 

 the Southern States in the winter, and is among the earliest of 

 the Spring birds. This bird may be noticed, gleaning up 

 crumbs from our yards, and our very doors, it will even ap- 

 proach the threshold to pick up the crumbs thrown to it, in 

 this social characteristic, it is singular ; it is distinguished by 

 its black bill and frontlet. Its length is five and a half inches. 

 This bird seems to represent, in America, the Common, or House 

 Sparrow, of Europe, Pyrgita domestica ; but it is less bold and 

 crafty than the latter bird, and probably less voracious also. 

 BufFon estimated that a pair of Sparrows will destroy about 

 4,000 caterpillars weekly in feeding their young; this is some 

 compensation for the birds' devastation in granaries and barns. 



THE TREE SPARROW, or CANADA BUNTING, E. Canadensis, 

 breeds in the Fur countries. Audubon thinks it also breeds in 

 Maine. This bird may be seen in the magnificent elms that 

 ornament Boston and its adjacent villages. It is a sweet songster. 

 The well known SNOW BIRD, Struthus hyemalis, or Nipluza, 

 (snowy,) hiemalis, Aud., migrates from the North, at night, as far 

 as 30o N. L. It is common to the northern parts of the conti- 

 nent of Europe. This is a shy, timorous bird, and is rarely 

 seen except in snow-storms, when it appears in flocks around 

 dwellings. At night, it resorts to stacks of corn or hay, making 

 there a hole for its resort in cold weather. Its nest is built on 

 the ground ; the eggs are usually four in number, of a spherical 

 form, yellowish white, and sprinkled with reddish brown dots. 

 Length six and a quarter inches. 



THE INDIGO BUNTING, or INDIGO BIRD, Spiza, (Gr. from spizo, 

 to chirp ;) cyanea, (sky-blue,) is one of our beautiful birds coming 

 from the South, and appearing in New York late in May, it is 



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