OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 24I 



it does not look like a hardy bird, yet while here it is exceed- 

 ingly lively and cheerful, its silvery tinkling notes being 

 frequently heard during the coldest snaps in w^inter. At the 

 approach of spring they all move off to the north, and none are 

 observed during summer. 



219. SPIZELLA SOCIALIS (Wils.). 560. 

 Chipping Sparrow. 



Adult, bill black ; feet pale ; crown chestnut, extreme forehead black, a 

 grayish-white superciliary line, below this a blackish stripe through eye and 

 over auriculars. Below, a variable shade of pale ash, nearly uniform and 

 entirely unmarked ; back streaked with black, dull bay and grayish-brown ; 

 inner secondaries and wing coverts similarly variegated, the tips of the 

 greater and lesser coverts forming whitish bars ; rump ashy, with slight 

 blackish streaks ; primaries and tail dusky, the bill pale brown, and the head 

 lacking definite black. Length, 5-5^ ; wing, about 2| ; tail, rather less. 



Hab. Eastern North America, west to the Rocky Mountains, north to 

 Great Slave Lake, and south to Eastern Mexico. 



Nest, in a bush or among the vines ; composed of rootlets and fine grass 

 lined with horse hair. 



Eggs, 4 to 6 ; pale bluish-green, dotted, speckled or scrawled with dark 

 brown. 



Prior to the advent of the House Sparrow, the Chipper was 

 the most familiar and best known bird around our dwellings, 

 and though now in the minority it still builds its nest in the 

 garden, and comes familiarly near the door to pick up crumbs 

 for the support of its family. 



It is very generally distributed over Ontario, being found near 

 the dwellings of rich and poor alike ; in the shade trees in the 

 city as well as in weedy corners and thorn bushes in the 

 pasture field. 



It arrives from the south about the end of April, and at once 

 begins building its nest. It is most diligent in the discharge 

 of its varied domestic duties during the summer, and when the 

 young are able to shift for themselves, old and young get 

 together in flocks, and about the end of October all move off to 

 the south. 



