PASSERES — FRINGILLID JS — EMBERIZA. 1 59 



THE CHIP-BIRD. 



Emberiza socialis. 

 plate lxx. fig. 160. 



Passer domesticus. Babtram, Travels, p. 291. 



Fringilla socialis. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 127, pi. 16, fig. 5. 



Passerma id. Vieillot, Diet. Sc. 



F. ( Spiza) id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 109. . > 



Chipping Sparrow. Ncttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 497. Aodubon, folio, pi. 104. 



Emberiza socialis. Rich. & Swainsoh, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 251. Kirtland, Ohio Rep. p. 164. Peabody, 



Mass. Rep. p. 325. Aoddbon, Birds of Am. Vol. 3, p. 80, pi. 165. 

 E. id., Chipping Bunting. Giracd, Birds of Long island, p. 106. 



Characteristics. Bill short, entirely black. Frontlet black. Crown chesnut, undivided. 

 Chin and line over the eye white. Length, 5^ inches* 



Description. Bill short, thick, conical. The first four primaries nearly equal ; the third 

 and fourth slightly longest. Tail emarginate,  3 longer than the tips of the closed wings. 



Color. Beneath the eye, hind part of the neck and underneath, ash-grey. Rump ash- 

 colored. Beneath the white stripe over the eye, is a narrow black stripe, passing through 

 the eye, and continued more or less interrupted behind the chesnut crown. Interscapular 

 region brown, streaked with black. Primaries dusky, edged with chesnut. Tail dusky, 

 edged with pale chesnut. Female, smaller; crown streaked with black. In winter, the 

 frontlet black. 



Length, S'O-S'S. Alar extent, 7'5-8 - 0. 



The familiar Chipping-bird is known to all. During the winter months, it migrates to the 

 Southern States, and appears with us in the earliest spring. It breeds in this State, placing 

 its nest on some low bush, and laying from four to five bright greenish blue eggs, spotted 

 with brown chiefly at the larger end. It feeds on the smaller insects and seeds. Its hitherto 

 observed range extends from the northern boundary of New-York to Texas. 



