110 CHIPPING SPARROW. 



the ground. Supposing this to have been a variety, or different species, 

 I have examined the bird, nest and eggs, with particular care, several 

 times ; but found no difference. I have observed the same accidental 

 habit in the Red-winged Blackbird, which sometimes builds among the 

 grass, as well as on alder bushes. 



This species is six inches and a half long, and eight and a half in 

 extent ; upper part of the head dark chestnut, divided, laterally, by a 

 line of pale dirty white ; spot at each nostril yellow ochre ; line over 

 the eye inclining to ash ; chin white ; streak from the lower mandible, 

 slit of the mouth, and posterior angle of the eye, dark chestnut ; breast 

 and sides under the wings thickly marked with long pointed spots of 

 dark chestnut, centered with black, and running in chains ; belly white ; 

 vent yellow ochre, streaked with brown ; back streaked with black, bsly, 

 and pale ochre ; tail brown, rounded at the end, the two middle feathers 

 streaked down their centres with black ; legs flesh colored ; wing coverts 

 black, broadly edged with bay, and tipped with yellowish white ; wings 

 dark brown. The female is scarcely distinguishable by its plumage 

 from the male. The bill in both horn colored. 



Species VI. FRINGILLA SOOIALIS. 



CHIPPING SPARROW. 



[Plate XVI. Fig. 5.] 

 Passer domesHcus, the little House Sparrow, or Chipping-hird, Bartkam, p. 291. 



This species, though destitute of the musical talents of the former, is 

 perhaps more generally known, because more familiar and even domes- 

 tic. He inhabits, during sumnier, the city, in common with man, build- 

 ing in the branches of the trees with which our streets and gardens are 

 ornamented ; and gleaning up crumbs from our yards, and even our 

 doors, to feed his more advanced young with. I have known one of 

 these birds attend regularly every day, during the whole summer, while 

 the family were at dinner, under a piazza, fronting the garden, and pick 

 up the crumbs that were thrown to him. This sociable habit, which 

 continues chiefly during the summer, is a singular characteristic. To- 

 wards the end of summer he takes to the fields, and hedges, until the 

 weather becomes severe, with snow, when he departs for the south. 



The Chipping-bird builds his nest most commonly in a cedar bush, 

 and lines it thickly with cow-hair. The female lays four or five eggs 

 of a light blue color, with a few dots of purplish black near the great 

 end. 



