PASSERES — FRINGILLID^. 149 



abundant during the entire summer throughout the state. 



The food consists of 62 per cent, vegetable to 38 animal 

 matter. Only 4 per cent, of the food is grain, and there 

 seems to be no evidence that any fruit is eaten. Of the 38 

 per cent, of animal food a large part consists of the cater- 

 pillars of some of our most injurious insects. In large 

 part these are such insects as other birds do not find be- 

 cause they are afraid to come so near human habitations. 

 Although not larger than your thumb, this little bird is 

 among the most useful of our sparrows. 



It may be a resident in the southern counties, unless the 

 weather is too severe. In northern Ohio it appears close to 

 the first of April, but does not become common before the 

 last of the month. The last ones leave the lake shore about 

 the middle of October. 



206. (563.) Spizella pusilla (Wils.). 103. 

 Field Sparrow. 



Synonyms: Fringilla pusilla, P. juncorum, Spizella agrestis. 

 Wood Sparrow, Bush Sparrow, Field Chippy, Red-billed 

 Chippy, Feo-feo. 



Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 164. 

 r 

 The Field Sparrow is really a bush-haunting sparrow, 



and is not infrequently called the brush sparrow. The 



brush fringing woods is the favorite haunt of this species. 



Brushy pastures are usually full of them and their nests. 



Their peculiar accelerando song is characteristic of such 



places. 



The food habits and food are very similar to those of 

 Chipping Sparrow. Both deserve strict protection. 



The Field Sparrow spends the entire winter south of 

 Ohio, and returns during the' third week in March, rarely 

 earlier. It remains well into October, and may linger until 

 November in the extreme southern part of the state. 



