Family Fringillidcc CJ tipping Sparrow 109 



April, and remains until mid-October. They are to 

 be found most abundantly on or near the ground, 

 in parks and gardens, about houses, and along quiet 

 roads. Their confiding habits have rendered them 

 well known, and they are not ordinarily likely to be 

 confounded with any other sparrow. Occasionally, 

 however, they may be found in dry, bushy fields 

 together with the field sparrow. The differences 

 between these two very similar species have already 

 been enumerated. (See No. 54.) 



The nest is usually placed not far from the 

 ground in shrubbery or vines. When trees are se- 

 lected, cedars are preferred ; but an orchard or oc- 

 casionally a shade tree may be chosen. Its habit 

 of lining the nest with horse-hair has given rise 

 to the common name of hairbird. Eggs are laid 

 about the first of June, and there are two sets. 



The ordinary note is a single chip ; besides this, 

 there is a long, monotonous trill, somewhat like a 

 watchman's rattle, which is sometimes given rapidly, 

 sometimes more slowly. 



LITERATURE : 



Upland and Meadow. (Art. " Twixt Cold and Heat.") C. C. 

 ABBOTT. 



