398 FINCHES, SPARROWS; ETC. 
and middle wing-coverts tipped with white; outer web of the outer tail- 
feather whitish; breast grayish white; middle of the belly white; sides 
tinged with pale grayish brown; upper mandible black; lower, yellow at the 
base, the tip black. L., 6°36; W., 2°99; T., 2°82; B., °41. 
Range.—E. N. Am. Breeds in Hudsonian zone from cen. Mackenzie and 
n. Ungava to Great Slave Lake, cen. Keewatin, n. Que., and N. F.; winters 
from s. Minn., Ont., and the Maritime Provinces s. to e. Okla., cen. Ark., 
and S. C. ' 
Washington, abundant W. V., Oct.-Apl. 1. Ossining, common W. V., 
Oct. 10-Apl. 27. Cambridge, common W. V., abundant T. V., Oct. 25— 
Nov. 25; Mch. 20-Apl. 20. N. Ohio, abundant W. V., Oct. 24-May 3. Glen 
Ellyn, common W. V., Oct. 4-Apl. 28. SE. Minn., common T. V., Oct. 6- 
May 5; a few winter. 
Nest, of grasses, rootlets, and hair, on or near the ground. “Eggs, 4-5, 
pale green or greenish blue, spotted with reddish brown, ‘75 x ‘60” (Cham- 
berlain). Date, Ft. Chimo, Lab., June 16. 
Tree Sparrows wear a small black dot on the center of their other- 
wise unmarked breasts, a badge which will aid in their identification. 
They come in flocks when the fields are beginning to look brown and 
dreary, but seem contented with the surroundings from which other 
birds have fled. They feed on the seeds of weeds and grasses, and even 
when the snow is deepest always find an abundance of food. I like to see 
them feasting on the seed-stalks above the crust, and to hear their 
chorus of merry, tinkling notes, like sparkling frost crystals turned to 
music. 
Winter Chippies they are sometimes called, but at this season there 
is little of the Chippy’s nature about them. In February or March 
they begin to sing a song which has been compared to that of a Canary, 
but is ‘“‘finer, sweeter, and not so loud.” 
560. Spizella passerina passerina (Bech.). Curppina Sparrow. Ads. 
—Forehead black, a short grayish line in its middle; top of the head rufous; 
the nape generally with a few black streaks; a grayish line over the eye and 
a black line behind it; back of the neck grayish, separating the rufous crown 
from the back; back streaked with black, a little rufous, and more pale 
buffy ochraceous; rump slaty gray; wing-bars not 
conspicuous; underparts grayish white, whiter on 
the throat and belly; bill entirely black. Ads. in 
winter and Im.—Similar, but no rufous crown-cap 
or black on the forehead; top of the head streaked 
like the back; bill brownish. Nestlings have the 
breast streaked with black. L., 5°37; W., 2°74; T., 
2°29; B., °36. 
Remarks.—In adults the rufous crown, black 
Fig. 107. Chipping Spar- forehead, gray rump, and black bill are characteris- 
row. (Natural size.) tic; in winter the gray rump is a good distinguishing 
mark. 
Range—E. N. Am. Breeds in Canadian, Transition, and Austral zones 
from cen. Sask., sw. Keewatin, n. Ont., cen. Que., and Cape Breton Is: to 
cen. Tex., s. Miss., and cen. Ga.; winters chiefly in s. States, occasionally 
as far n. as Okla. and s. N. J.; casual in Cuba and ne. Mex. 
Washington, common §. R., abundant T. V., Mch. 9-Nov. 11, occasion- 
ally winters. Ossining, common S. R., Apl. 9-Nov. 7. Cambridge, abun- 
ipa ee ADM 12-Oct. 25. Re ar eg ae Se sy Meh. 23 to Oct. 10. 
en yn, not very common S. R., ‘ ov. 5. SE. Minn., 
S. R., Apl. 8-Oct. 26. * beri 
