l''I!LNiILLlI).H — TIIK I'lNCllKH. 7 



more care (iTifl neatness of interweaving. Tliti eggs are nstially five in nmu- 

 l)er, of an olilong-oval Hlia]ie, Tlie ground is a wliitisli elay-color, marked 

 more or less fnlly with blotches of a ferruginoiis-hrown. In some tliese 

 marl<ings are few, and arranged oidy about tlie hirger end. In others tliey 

 are generally diffused, and impart a deep ferruginous color to the whole egg, 

 and disguise or conceal tlie ground. They vary also in size, — in length 

 from .70 to .03 of an inch, and in breadtli from .i'>2 to .51). Their usual size 

 is .70 by .52. 



Two nests of this binl taken in Lynn, Mass., liy Mr. rieorgc O. "Welch, are 

 characteristic of their usual style in arclutecture. One of these lias a diam- 

 eter of four and a lieight of two and a half inches. Its base, as well as tiie 

 great niiiss of its poripliery, is made of a very loose intertwining of mi- 

 nute stems of vegetables and dry grasses. Tiie ends of tliese ]iroject from the 

 exterior of the nest at the uj)per rim, and present a very peculiar apjiearance, 

 as of an enclosure of palisades. The interior is lined with horsehair. The 

 other is made of similar materials, of a less rigid diameter lind closer tex- 

 ture. Its rim presents the same jieculiarities of projecting ends, arranged 

 like a fence above the nest itself. Its dimensions also are about the same. It 

 i.s, however, much more compactly constructed, with thicker walls tind a less 

 open network of dry grasses, and stiff wiry steins of dried plants intermixed 

 with a few pine leaves. The whole is veiy carefully and warmly lined 

 with horsehair and the softer fur of small quadrupeds. These nests con- 

 tained, one three, and the other four eggs. 



Spizella socialis, r.nxAP. 



CHIPPING SPABROW; CHIPPY. 



FrinqWa sncinlis, Wilson, .\ni. Oni. II, 1810, 127, pi. xvi, f. ». - Ari). Oni. Hinj;. II, 

 1834, 21 ; V', fjlT, pi. civ. i^j)hrllii six-lalis, Hon. Lis*, 18;!8. — In. Coiisin'ctus, 18,")0, 

 480. — IJ.viiU), iiiiils N. Am. 1808, 47:!. — Cooi-Kii & t.ucKl.KY, 203. — Samtkls, 320. 

 Emhcrhti mn'nU.i, All). Syii. 183!'. — lu. Binls Am. Ill, 1841, 80, pi. cl.xv. Spiiiiks 

 sw./(i/(.s', t'AUAXis, Mils. Ilciii. 1851, 133. 



Sp. CriAii. Riiiiip, back of neck, and sides of neck and head, asliy. Intcrsiaiiidar 

 rcfjion wiili black stivak.-s, margined with palo nilbiis. Ciowu contiiuious and iniilbiin 

 cliL'.stuut. i'orchead lilack, sopaiated in the niiddli' by white. A white streak over the 

 eye to nape, anil a bhiek one from the base of the bill tiirough aii'l behind the eyl^ Lores 

 dusky. Under parts unspotted wliiti.sh, tinged with ashy on the sides and across tlu^ 

 upper breast. Tail-'i'iUhers and primaries edged with paler, not while. Two narrow 

 wiiite bands across the wing-coverts. Bill l)lack. Length. 0.7") ; wing, nearly 3.00 ; tail, 

 '2.00 (or less). 



Yoioi;/. luunalure birds and rre(piently the adult females with the cap streaked with 

 blacki.sh lines, the chestnut iieaily or sometimes quite wanting. Birds of the year streaked 

 beneath and on ruii'p. 



The color of l)ill varies; .sometimes entirely black throughout, sometimes very light (but 

 never reddish as in S. juisillu), with all iuterraediuto stages. There is usually, however, a 



