FOOD OF SOME WELL-KNOWN BIRDS. 



25 



than a fifth of the total, they consume half of all the grain eaten by 

 the whole group. From this it might appear that the California 

 birds are decidedly injurious, but it must not be forgotten that oats, 

 which make up the bulk of their grain food, grow wild throughout 

 the State, and it 

 is probable that 

 a great part of 

 the oats consumed 

 comes from the 

 wild plants, the de- 

 struction of whose 

 seed is a benefit. — 

 W. L. M. 



CHIPPING SPAR- 

 ROW. 



(Kpizrlla pati.serina.) 



The chipping 

 sparrow (fig. 11) 

 occupies practi- 

 cally the whole of 

 the United States 

 and part of Can- 

 ada during the 

 breeding season. 

 It winters in the 

 Southern States 

 and southward. 

 This bird has en- 

 deared itself to 

 the people of the 

 country by its gen- 

 tle and confiding 

 manners, and by 

 the fact that it 

 does no mischief. 

 Orchards, shade 

 trees about houses, and open groves are its favorite haunts, and in 

 such places it builds its nest. The bird usually lines its nest with 

 coarse hair, a habit that has earned for it the rather common name, 

 " hair bird." 



For the investigation of the food of this bird some 300 stomachs 

 were available. They were collected from all parts of the United 



506 



Fig. 11. — Chipping sparrow. 



