The Western Chipping Sparrow 



to their present sites. Some are set as loosely as feathers upon the tips 

 of evergreen branches, and a heavy storm in season is sure to bring down 

 a shower of Chippies' nests. 



Eggs are laid during April, May, or June, according to level. They 

 are among the most familiar objects in Nature, and particular descrip- 

 tion of them ought to be unnecessary. But every person who knows that 

 we are interested in birds has to stop us on the street to tell about the 

 "cunningest little nest, you know, with four of the cutest - — ." "Hold 

 on," we say; "were the eggs blue?" "Yes." "With dots on them?" 

 "Why, yes; how did you know?" 



Incubation lasts only ten days, and two broods are usually raised 

 in each season. Chipping Sparrows are very devoted parents and the 

 sitting female will sometimes allow herself to be taken in the hand. The 

 male bird is not less sedulous in the care of the young, and he sometimes 

 exercises a fatherly oversight of the first batch of babies, while his mate 

 is preparing for the June crop. 



Taken in Mariposa County 

 Photo by the A uthor 



A WARM DAY IN YOSEMITE 



307 



