68 



CHIPPING SPARROW-AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



for themselves. The young also, in their turn, possess uncommon 

 cunning and agility, running and concealing themselves in the 

 sedge of the wet meadows. Their robust legs and feet, as well 

 as long claws, seem purposely provided to accelerate this clinging 

 and running on the uneven ground. The length of this species 

 is six inches, and its breadth is eight inches. 



The Chipping Sparrow. (Sfiizella socialist) 



Fig. 6. 



With the Song Sparrow, this species is probably the most nu- 

 merous, common, and familiar bird in the United States ; inhabit- 

 ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Breeds chiefly in Middle and 

 Southern States. Winters in the Southern States and south into 

 Mexico. It is also very abundant in Cuba. Nuttall says : "Aware 

 of the many parasitic enemies of the feathered race which it has 

 to encounter, who prowl incessantly, and particularly in quest of 

 its eggs, it approaches almost instinctively the precincts of houses, 

 barns, and stables, and frequently ventures into the center of the 

 noisy and bustling city to seek, in the cultivated court, an asylum 

 for its expected progeny. Soon sensible of favor or immunity, it 

 often occupies with its nest the thick shrubs of the garden within 

 a few yards of the neighboring habitation, by the side, perhaps, 

 of a frequented walk, in the low rose-bush, the lilac, or any other 

 familiar plant affording any degree of shelter or security, and will, 

 at times, regularly visit the threshold, the piazza, or farm-yard for 

 the crumbs which intention or accident may afford it. On other 

 occasions, the orchard-trees are chosen for its habitation, or in the 

 lonely woods, an evergreen, cedar, or fir, is selected for the pur- 

 pose. It makes no pretentions to song, but merely chips, in com- 

 plaint, when molested ; or mounting the low boughs of some or- 

 chard-tree or shrub, utters a quickly-articulated ascending Hsh Hsh 

 Hsh Hsh Hsh tshe tshe, almost like the jingling of farthings, and a lit- 

 tle resembling the faint warble of the Canary, but without any of its 

 variety or loudness. This note, such as it is, is continued often 

 for half an hour at a time, but is little louder than the chirping of 

 a chicken, and uttered by the male while attending his brooding 

 mate. For many weeks through the summer, and during fine 

 weather, this note is often given, from time to time, in the night, 

 like the reverie of a dream. The nest of the Chipping Bird va- 

 ries sometimes considerably in its materials and composition. The 

 external layer, seldom so thick but that it may be readily seen 

 through, is composed of dry stalks of withered grass, and lined 

 more or less with horse or cow-hair. The eggs are four or five, 

 of a bright though not deep greenish-blue color, with a few spots 

 of dark and lighter brown, chiefly disposed at the greater end. 

 They are usually narrowed considerably at the small end, though 

 occasionally they are almost oblong. The cuckoo destroys many 

 eggs of this timid, harmless, and sociable little bird, as their nests 

 are readily discovered, and numerous. On such occasions, the 

 little sufferer expresses great and unusual anxiety for the security 

 of her little charge ; and after being repeatedly robbed, the female 

 sits closely sometimes upon perhaps only two eggs, desirous at any 

 rate to escape, if possible, with some of her little offspring. They 

 raise two or more broods in the season. The species is about five 

 inches long, and eight inches broad. 



American Goldfinch. — Thistle-bird. — Yellow-bird. ( Chrysomitris tristis.) 



Fig. 7. 



There is quite a resemblance between this species and the 

 Canary, and many persons have attempted to pair them together, 

 but it has generally proven unsuccessful. The flight, and manners 

 during it, are described by Audubon with minuteness. It is ex- 

 actly similar to the European bird of the same name, being per- 

 formed in deep curved lines, alternately rising and falling, after 



each propelling motion of the wings. It scarcely ever describes 

 one of those curves without uttering two or three notes while as- 

 cending, such as its European relative uses on similar occasions. 

 In this manner its flight is prolonged to considerable distances, 

 and it frequently moves in a circling direction before alighting. 

 Their migration is performed during the day. They seldom alight 

 on the ground, unless to procure water, in which they wash with 

 great liveliness and pleasure ; after which they pick up some par- 

 ticles of gravel and sand. So fond of each other's company are 

 they, that a party of them soaring on the wing will alter their course 

 at the calling of a single one perched on a tree. This call is ut- 

 tered with much emphasis. The bird prolongs its usual note, with- 

 out much alteration, and, as the party approaches, erects its body, 

 and moves to the right and left, as if turning on a pivot, apparently 

 pleased at showing the beauty of its plumage and elegance of its 

 manners. 



Nuttall says : "As the fine weather of spring approaches, they 

 put off their humble winter dress, and the males, now appear- 

 ing in their temporary golden livery, are heard tuning their lively 

 songs, as it were, in concert — several sitting on the same tree, 

 enjoying the exhilarating scene, basking and pluming themselves, 

 and vying with each other in the delivery of their varied, soft, and 

 cheerful warble. They have also the faculty of sinking and rais- 

 ing their voices in such a delightful cadence, that their music at 

 times seems to float on the distant breeze, scarcely louder than the 

 hum of beep ; it then breaks out, as it were, into a crescendo, 

 which rings like the loud song of the Canary. In cages, to which 

 they soon become familiar and reconciled, their song is nearly as 

 sonorous and animated as that of the latter. When engaged in 

 quarrel, they sometimes hurl about in a whole flock — some, as it 

 were, interfering to make peace, others amused by the fray, all 

 uttering loud and discordant chirpings. One of their most com- 

 mon whining calls, while engaged in collecting seed in gardens, 

 when they seem to be sensible of their delinquency, is, 'may be, 

 'may be. They have also a common cry, like Hsheveet Hshevee, 

 uttered in a slender, complaining accent. These, and some other 

 twittering notes, are frequently uttered at every impulse, while 

 pursuing their desultory, waving flight, rising and falling as they 

 shut or expand their laboring wings. They are partial to gar- 

 dens and domestic premises in the latter end of summer and au- 

 tumn, collecting oily seeds of various kinds, and shelling them 

 with great address and familiarity if undisturbed — often hanging 

 and moving about, head downward, to suit their convenience, 

 while thus busily and craftily employed. They have, like the true 

 Goldfinch, a particular fondness for thistle-seeds, and those of 

 other compound flowers, spreading the down in clouds around 

 them, and at this time feeding very silently and intently. Nor 

 are they very easily disturbed while thus engaged in the useful 

 labor of destroying the germs of these noxious weeds. They do 

 some damage occasionally in gardens by their indiscriminate de- 

 struction of lettuce and flower-seeds, and are therefore often dis- 

 liked by gardeners ; but their usefulness in other respects far 

 counterbalances the trifling injuries they produce." 



The nests are often built in tall young forest-trees or lofty 

 bushes, as in the sugar-maple, elm, spire-bush, and cornel. They 

 are made of strips of bass, hemlock bark, and root fibers, with a 

 filling at times of withered downy stalks of apple-tree leaves, 

 old oak catkins, and other softish rubbish ; then bedded and 

 lined within with thistle-down, the pappus of the buttonwood, or 

 sometimes cow-hair, and fine bent grass. 



This bird belongs to a group famous for their docility and apti- 

 tude to instruction to perform a variety of tricks. Audubon relates 

 that they are often caught in trap-cages ; and that he knew one, 

 which had undergone severe training, draw water for its drink 

 from a glass, by means of a little chain fastened to a soft, leathern 

 belt round its body, and another, equally light, fastened to a little 

 bucket, which was kept by its weight in the water. It was also 



