BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 325 



is often seen in company with the bhie snow-bird. When 

 the deep snows cut off their resources for food, they come to- 

 gether into our yards and under our Avindows, and generally 

 succeed in obtaining some small charity from man. Early in 

 spring they prepare for their return, but delay it on various 

 pretexts ; till, a day or two before their departure, they re- 

 cover their voices, and sing sweetly from the trees of the or- 

 chard. Audubon did not find them at Labrador ; but he met 

 with their nests in Nova Scotia, and his impression is, that 

 they breed in the northern parts of Maine. The tree-sparrows 

 are easily distinguished from others, by the spot in the centre 

 of the breast. 



The Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, is our most com- 

 mon bird, and so well known as hardly to need a description. 

 It is found alike in the city and the village, in the field and 

 the garden, in the forest and at the house-door. After passing 

 the winter in the southern states, it returns early in the spring. 

 It has no pretension to song, though, when it first returns, it 

 keeps a continuous jingling sound, unlike the chipping note to 

 which it owes its name. At the close of summer, the old and 

 young birds search for seeds in the fields in large flocks, col- 

 lected in preparation for their flight. The first snow fall is 

 their signal for disappearing. 



This little sparrow, in order to escape from worse enemies, 

 places its nest under the care of man. It builds in the sides of 

 walks, the corners of piazzas, or some spot equally open to ob- 

 servation ; and so strong is it confidence, that, if the nest is 

 torn down, it regards it as an accident, and builds in the same 

 place again. It adopts these sheltered situations, with a view, 

 no doubt, to escape from cuckoos, which would steal all its 

 eggs if they were exposed in the woods. 



The Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, resembles the spe- 

 cies last described, but is brighter in color and has a longer 

 tail. With us, after the first of April, it is found in open fields 

 and pastures, where it lives on insects and seeds. The song 



