FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 399 



Nest, of grasses, fine twigs, or rootlets, thickly lined with long hairs, in 

 trees or bushes, 5-20 feet up. Eggs, 4-5, blue or greenish blue, with cinnamon- 

 brown or blackish markings, chiefly at the larger end, '72 x '51. Date, 

 Montgomery Co., Pa., May 8; Cambridge, May 12; se. Minn., May 16. 



The Chippy is among Sparrows what the Phoebe is among Fly- 

 catchers the humblest, most unassuming member of its family. Both 

 show trustfulness, which, in spite of their unattractive appearance and 

 far from pleasing voices, wins our affection. Chippy makes his nest in 

 the vines on our piazza, and feeds on the crumbs at our doorstep, quite 

 as though he were a member of the family; and he needs only a little 

 encouragement to give evidence of his entire confidence in our good 

 will by feeding from our hands. His song is a monotonous chippy- 

 chippy-chippy-chippy, rather high and wiry and frequently running 

 into an insectlike trill by no means a musical performance. 



In the fall, Chippy changes his dress, dons a streaked cap for the 

 one of bright bay, and, with others of his kind, goes to the fields to 

 feast on the year's harvest of seeds. He is generally found near trees 

 and hedgerows, into which, when alarmed, he flies with his companions. 



561. Spizella pallida (Swains). CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. Ads. 

 With a general resemblance to immature S. socialis, but less rufous above, 

 whiter below, the line over the eye white, and the rump pale grayish brown 

 instead of slaty gray. W., 2*40; T., 2'35; B., '34. 



Range. Interior N. A. Breeds in Canadian and Transition zones from 

 se. B. C., s. Mackenzie, sw. Keewatin, and Isle Royale, Mich., to w. Mont., 

 se. Colo., n. Nebr., and nw. Ills.; winters from s. Ariz., s. N. M., and s. 

 Tex. s. to s. Mex., Guanajuato, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Chiapas; casual in 

 Ont. and Ind. SE. Minn., common S. R., Apl. 26-Oct. 19. 



Nest, of grasses, lined with hairs, on the ground or in bushes. Eggs, 3-5, 

 similar to those of the preceding. Date, se. Minn., May 23. 



"This pale Sparrow of the plains is very similar in actions to the 

 Chipping Sparrow, but less familiar and confiding in habits" (Goss). 



BREWER'S SPARROW (562. Spizella breweri), a western species, has 

 been recorded once from Massachusetts. (Brewster, Am. Nat., VIII, 1874, 

 366.) 



563. Spizella pusilla pusilla (Wils.). FIELD SPARROW. Bill reddish 

 brown. Ads. Top of head rufous, a gray line over the eye; nape slightly 

 gray; back like the crown, but finely streaked with black and narrowly 

 edged with brownish ashy; rump brownish ashy; middle and greater wing- 

 coverts tipped with white; underparts whitish, tinged with ochraceous-buff 

 on the breast and sides. Ads. in winter and Im. Similar, but the colors duller, 

 the crown edged with grayish arid sometimes a faint grayish line through its 

 center. Nestlings have the breast streaked with black. L., 5'68; W., 2'50; 

 T., 2'55; B., -36. 



Remarks. This bird may be known by its brightly colored back, buffy 

 breast, and especially by its reddish bill. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds in Transition and Austral zones from s. 

 Minn., s. Mich., s. Que., and s. Maine, to cen. Tex., cen. La., and n. Fla.; 

 winters from Mo., Ills., s. Pa., and N. J. to the Gulf coast, casually further n. 



Washington, very common P. R. Ossining, common S. R., Apl. 2-Nov. 

 7. Cambridge, common S. R., Apl. 12-Nov. 1; casual in winter. N. Ohio, 

 abundant in summer, Mch. 6-Oct. 25. Glen Ellyn, tolerably common S. R., 

 Mch. 27-Oct. 11. SE, Minn., common S. R., Apl. 1-Dec. 28. 



