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The Chipping Sparrow is rarely absent from the vicinity of suburban 

 or village homes, coming close to houses and frequenting the orchard and 

 shade-trees, the front yard, and even the doorstep. It does not fear man, 

 but though not avoiding him it escapes notice through its quiet and un- 

 obtrusive habits. 



Economic Status. The Chipping Sparrow is a greater insect eater 

 than most of the family. In fact, through June, 93 per cent of its food is 

 composed of insects, only 1 per cent of which are beneficial species, such as 

 predacious beetles and parasitic wasps. The average for the year is 38 

 per cent of insects, and for the months spent by the bird in Canada, the 

 average must be considerably higher. The vegetable matter consumed 

 consists of small weed seeds in which those of crab-grass, lamb's-quarters, 

 and ragweed predominate. A bird having these desirable qualities and 

 coming into the immediate vicinity of the garden is most useful and one 

 to be encouraged in every manner possible. 



561. Clay-coloured Sparrow, fr. — le pinson couleur d'arqilb. Spizella pal- 

 lida. L, 5-20. A small Sparrow with upperparts streaked in light buff and dark brown 

 to crown, where a whitish median stripe is indicated. A faint collar of slaty suffusion 

 about the back of the neck. White below, slightly tinged with buff on flanks. 



Distinctions. On account of size and habits likely to be mistaken only for the Chipping 

 Sparrow; but the back is lighter than in that bird and more clay coloured, and the rump 

 instead of being faintly slaty is slightly olive-buff. 



Nesting. On the ground or in bushes, in nest of grasses lined with hairs. 



Distribution. The interior of America. It is a prairie form extending north to the 

 limits of the prairie provinces, and only of accidental occurrence in eastern Canada, except 

 perhaps in the country adjoining the Manitoba boundary. 



A bird of the west; of rare occurrence in the western limits of the 

 region treated of in this work. 



563. Field Sparrow, fr. — le pinson des champs. Spizella pusilla. L, 6-68. 

 A small Sparrow of the same general colour as the Chipping, but with the colours subdued, 

 suffused, and blended. The red crown is darker and inconspicuous and there is no line of 

 black through the eye. The bill is cinnamon coloured instead of black. 



Distinctions. The above distinctions are sufficient to distinguish this bird. 



Field Marks. Dull reddish crown, lack of facial marks other than a touch of red on 

 ends of ear-coverts, and cinnamon-coloured bill. The song is its most easily recognized 

 characteristic and when learned is the best means of identification. 



Nesting. On the ground or in low bushes, in nest of rather coarse grasses, weed stalks, 

 and rootlets, lined with fine grasses and hair. 



Distribution. Eastern America; in Canada including most of the settled sections, 

 but rather local in distribution and unaccountably absent from some localities well within 

 its range. 



SUBSPECIES. The Field Sparrow is divided into an eastern and a western sub- 

 species; the former, the type form, is the only one occurring in eastern Canada. 



The Field Sparrow is an inconspicuous bird and though often very 

 common is so like a Chipping Sparrow with worn plumage that it may be 

 mistaken for it. It is a bird of the open fields and fence-rows and though 

 not shy or unusually retiring, must be looked and listened for to be 

 found. 



Economic Status. Very much like the Chipping Sparrow in food 

 habits taking a few more useful insects though not enough to affect 

 perceptibly its usefulness. 



