FINCHES. 219 



early part of October,* and retire to pass the winter in the 

 South. Before their departure they frequent the roadsides, 

 or vegetable-gardens, where they can obtain abundant food, 

 and may often be seen to pursue one another, uttering theii 

 rather weak battle-cries. 



d. Their ordinary note is a single chip, like that of the 

 Tree Sparrow. But the " Chippers " also possess a variety 

 of combined chips, and a series of querulous twitters, which 

 they employ as a battle-cry. Their nearest approach to a 

 song is a long, dry-toned, unmusical trill, which, from their 

 perch on fence or tree, they often repeat during the breeding 

 season and summer. These trills have several variations, 

 which are sometimes combined, one with a rising inflection 

 being followed by a more open one with a reverse inflection. 

 It is said that individuals have actually been known to sing, 

 and very sweetly, but such cases ai'e wholly exceptional. 



The Chipping Sparrows are " so tame as to be fed with 

 crumbs from the table," so fearless of man as to be much 

 favored by him, and so common that they may eventually 

 become as intimate in our households as certain birds of 

 Europe are in those of their country. 



B. MONTICOLA. Tree Sparrow.^ "Arctic Chipper" 

 In Massachusetts, a winter resident, generally quite common 

 and regular in appearance.f 



a. About six inches long. ("BiU, black above, yellow 

 below.") Crown, chestnut, in winter slightly marked. 

 Superciliary line, dull white ; eye-stripe (and maxillary line), 

 dark. Interscapulars, bright bay, pale-edged, and black- 

 streaked. Eump, unmarked; tail, dusky ("black") with 

 white edgings. Under parts, white. Sides of head, lower 

 throat, and upper breast, a,alay-tinted ; the latter with a dark 

 central blotch. Sides, however, and rarely the whole under 



• They are ordinarily common up to + An abundant spring and autumn 



the middle of this month, and a few migrant, and a yery common winter res- 



UBually linger as late as the 24th or ident, not known to breed anywhere 



25t)i. ■^7. B. within our boundaries. — W. B. 



85 Not to be confused with the Eng- 

 lish Tree Sparrow (XXV). 



