BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 239 



young they repair to fields and bushes preparatory to migrating south- 

 ward. The nest, which is built in trees or shrubbery, is made up of 

 dried grasses, or other fine vegetable materials, and lined with horse 

 hair. The bluish-green egg's, four or five in number, are marked usually 

 on the larger end with a ring of purplish and blackish-brown spots. 

 They measure about .70 by .55 of an inch. 



This species, in the early spring and autumn, subsists principally on 

 the small seeds of different weeds and grasses ; in the summer months 

 both the adults and young feed mainly on an insect diet, small beetles, 

 ants, flies, spiders and numerous small "worms" are eagerly devoured. 

 Pieces of bread, cake, or small particles of meat, are also eaten with ap- 

 parent relish. 



Spizella pusilla (WiLS.)- 



Field Sparrow. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 8$. Fig. 2). 



Size about the same as the Chippy, but tail is longer than that of socialis. Bill 

 light reddish ; crown dull-chestnut, with mostly an indistinct grayish stripe in 

 center ; no black or white on head; back quite rusty, with blackish streaks ; sides of 

 head more or less rusty ; back of neck ashy, washed with rusty; below whitish and 

 unmarked, more or less tinged, especially anteriorily, and on sides, with grayish 

 and pale rusty. 



Young. Colors similar to adult but duller, breast and sides more or less streaked 

 with dusky. Length about 5 inches ; extent about 8 inches. 



Habitat. Eastern United States and southern Canada, west to the plains. 



Common summer resident from April to November, and during mild 

 winters a few of these birds are sometimes found with us. The Field 

 Sparrow, as its name signifies, is a frequenter of fields ; it delights es- 

 pecially to inhabit sandy weed-grown fields or other uncultivated areas 

 where numerous small bushes, particularly wild roses, are growing. 

 Its somewhat mournful, yet sweet and entertaining, song may be heard 

 at all times of the day. The nest is built on the ground or in low 

 bushes, and is composed chiefly of grasses, leaves and hair ; eggs, four 

 or five, white, spotted with reddish brown, measure about .70 by .50 of 

 an inch. In the early spring, fall and winter months, this species feeds 

 mainly on small seeds of variqus weeds and grasses. In summer the 

 old and young subsist largely on different forms of insect life, such as 

 small beetles, flies, ants, spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, earth-worms, 

 and different larvae. They also feed on raspberries, blackberries and 

 other similar soft fruits ; it is not uncommon to see the bill and feathers 

 about the head and neck of this bird more or less discolored by the 

 juices of such fruit. 



