232 TREE SPARROW. 



By some of our own naturalists this species has been con- 

 founded with the Chipping Sparrow (fig. 5), which it very much 

 resembles; but is larger and handsomer; and is never found with 

 us in summer. The former departs for the south about the same 

 time that the latter arrives from the north; and from this cir- 

 cumstance, and their general resemblance, has arisen the mis- 

 take. 



The Tree Sparrow is six inches and a half long, and nine and 

 a half in extent; the whole upper part of the head is of a bright 

 reddish chestnut, sometimes slightly skirted with gray; from 

 the nostrils over the eye passes a white strip fading into pale 

 ash as it extends back; sides of the neck, chin and breast very 

 pale ash; the centre of the breast marked with an obscure spot 

 of dark brown; from the lower angle of the bill proceeds a slight 

 streak of chestnut; sides under the wings pale brown ; back hand- 

 somely streaked with pale drab, bright bay and black; lower 

 part of the back and rump brownish drab; lesser wing coverts 

 black, edged with pale ash; wings black, broadly edged with 

 bright bay; the first and second row of coverts tipt with pure 

 white; tail black, forked, and exteriorly edged with dull white; 

 belly and vent brownish white; bill black above, yellow below; 

 legs a brownish clay colour; feet black. The female is about 

 half an inch shorter; the chestnut or bright bay on the wings, 

 back and crown is less brilliant; and the white on the coverts 

 narrower, and not so pure. These are all the differences I can 

 perceive. 



