FIELD SPARROW. 91 



enough hair can be found for so many nests, as Chip- 

 ping Sparrows are very common and raise two or 

 three broods in a season. They build low, in a bush 

 or small tree, and the eggs, 4 to 5, are light blue, 

 somewhat speckled. 



Chippy's distinguishing mark is his red-brown cap. 

 When he feels like singing he chants his own name 

 rapidly, in a high key, chippy-chippy-chippy-chippy. 

 It is likely to be the first bird-sound at daybreak and 

 the last in the evening, and is sometimes given softly 

 in the night, as if to assure the brooding mate of his 

 protecting presence. 



Field Sparrow: Spizella pusilla. 



Length 5^ inches. 



Upper parts bright reddish-brown finely streaked with 

 black and ashy; crown and bill reddish-brown; whitish 

 wing-bars. 



Under parts white, unstreaked, and tinged with pale red- 

 dish-brown. 



Resident (common) all the year. 



The Field Sparrow is known by his red-brown 

 color, and especially by his reddish bill. He is a bird 

 of varied songs, all sweet and tuneful. Mr. Bur- 

 roughs gives one as fe-o, fe-o, fe-o, few, few, few, fee, 

 fee, fee, " at first high and leisurely, but running very 

 rapidly towards the close, which is low and soft." 

 There are two others commonly heard in Maryland, 

 one of which can be given very nearly on the piano. 

 Take C, then A below, G adjoining, and back to C. 

 Strike each key rather rapidly four times, except the 

 last, which may be one note, three or five, and is some- 

 times trilled an octave higher, or it may be any other 

 note than C. It must be remembered that bird songs 



