CHIPPING SPARROW. 333 



these birds are at that season numerous, and roost together 

 near the margin of the reeds, ahiiost in the society of the 

 Blackbirds, who seek out a similar place of warmth and shelter 

 as the chilling frosts begin to prevail. 



At this cool and gloomy season, and down to the close of 

 the first week in November, as they pass from branch to 

 branch and play capriciously round each other, they keep up 

 almost perpetually a low and pleasant liquid warble, not much 

 unlike that of the Yellow Bird {Fringilla tristis), but less 

 varied. Sometimes two or three at the same time will tune up 

 s'weedit s'weedit weet, and s'waidit s'waidit weet, accompanied 

 by some tremulous trilling and variation, which, though rather 

 sad and querulous, is heard at this silent season with peculiar 

 delight. In summer, during the breeding-time, they express 

 considerable melody. 



According to Mr. Hutchins they breed around the Hudson 

 Bay settlements, making a nest in the herbage, formed exter- 

 nally of dry grass, and lined with soft hair or down, probably 

 from vegetables, in the manner of the Yellow Bird. About the 

 beginning of April they leave the Middle States for their sum- 

 mer quarters, and arrive around Severn River in May ; they 

 also probably propagate in Newfoundland, where they have 

 been observed. With us they are still seen in numbers to the 

 19th of April. 



Numbers of the Tree Sparrow winter regularly in the Maritime 

 Provinces of Canada. Macoun reports the species common in 

 summer at Lake Mistassini, which lies a little to the southward of 

 Hudson Bay. 



CHIPPING SPARROW. 



chippy. hair-bird. 



Spizella sociaus. 



Char. Above, streaked with grayish brown, black, and bay ; crown 

 chestnut ; forehead black ; sides of head and neck ashy ; dull white line 

 over eyes ; dusky stripe from bill through eyes ; tail forked and dusky 

 with pale edgings ; wings with two white bars ; below, dull white, tinged 

 with ash on breast and sides. Length about 534 inches. 



