238 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, westward to the plains, and from the Arctic 

 ocean ; south in winter, to the Carolinas, Kentucky and eastern Kansas. Breeds 

 north of the United States, east of the Rocky mountains. 



This hardy sparrow, the largest of the genus, is an abundant winter 

 resident from late in October to about the middle of April. We find 

 them in flocks, often in company with Snow-birds and other sparrows, 

 frequenting briery thickets, shrubbery, old fields where various weeds 

 abound, and about hedge rows. Weedy spots near the edge of woods, 

 or similar situations in or near briery places along the borders of small 

 creeks are also favorite feeding grounds for them. The food of this 

 species during its stay with us, consists almost entirely of the seeds of 

 various weeds, grasses, etc. ; cedar berries and wild grapes are also some- 

 times fed upon. I have never known the Tree Sparrow to disturb the 

 buds or blossoms of any trees or bushes, as some writers assert it is ac- 

 customed to do in the spring before migrating northward. The name 

 of Tree Sparrow is given, not because the bird is always found in trees 

 or bushes, but fronii its common habit of flying from the ground or 

 thickets into trees when disturbed. This bird not only frequently nests 

 on the ground, but likewise collects the greater portion of its food from 

 the earth. Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, informs me that he 

 had for some years, several pairs of these birds in an enclosure of net 

 work, 24x75 feet and about 12 feet high. They built nests, but in only 

 a few instances did they lay their full sets of eggs, and none succeeded 

 in hatching them. 



Spizella socialis (WiLS,)- 



Chipping Sparrow ; Chippy. 



DESCRIPTION {Plate 30. Fig. 3). 



Length about 5 inches ; extent about 8^ ; bill dark-brown or blackish ; legs pale- 

 brownish ; feathers of forehead about base of maxilla black ; crown bright-chestnut ; 

 a whitish stripe from base of maxilla, along the chestnut crown ; black spot in front 

 of eye and a black streak behind it; below whitish, or pale ashy, and unspotted; 

 two whitish and narrow wing bars ; rump, back and sides of neck ashy ; middle of 

 back brownish, with conspicuous black streaks. 



Young. Crown brownish, streaked with blackish, streak over eye yellowish- 

 white ; breast and sides with dusky lines ; bill light brown. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, west to the Rocky mountains, north to Great 

 Slave Lake, and south to eastern Mexico. 



The Chipping Sparrow, so named from its note, is an abundant sum- 

 mer resident from early in April to the latter part of October. In the 

 spring these birds are generally seen singly or in pairs ; in the late sum- 

 mer and fall the adults and young collect together and are to be found 

 in flocks in company with other species, especially the Field and Vesper 

 Sparrows. Chipping Sparrows are common frequenters about the hab- 

 itations of man during the breeding season, but after rearing their 



