82 CHIPPING BUNTING. 



tion, it is the most numerous species in Massachusetts. It does not, how- 

 ever, arrive here so soon by seven weeks as most of the same genus, 

 Fringilla melodia and F. graminea having commenced incubation by the 

 time when it makes its appearance. It is one of the most confiding of our 

 visitors, not unfrequently forming its nest among the vines planted as 

 ornaments to our piazzas. In this part of the country there appears to exist 

 a kind of tacit compact between the Chipping Sparrow and the Field 

 Sparrow, by which all the cultivated ground is appropriated to the former, 

 while the wild retired fields and pastures are occupied by the latter, for the 

 purpose of breeding. I have never met with an instance where the two 

 species bred in the same field. The eggs of the Chipping Sparrow measure 

 six-eighths in length by five-eighths in breadth." Probably the reason of 

 the division of the tracts of land above mentioned is, that the Field Sparrow 

 being more shy or retiring, and reaching the same districts at an earlier pe- 

 riod, it has the opportunity of choosing such grounds as suit it best, and is 

 afterwards able to maintain its position. 



Abundant throughout the United States. Winter resident in all the 

 Southern States. Not seen in Texas, Nova Scotia, or Labrador. 



Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 127. 



Fringilla socialis, Bonap. Syn., p. 109. 



Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 497. 



Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 21; vol. v. p. 517. 



Adult Male. 



Bill short, rather small, conical, acute; upper mandible rather narrower 

 than the lower, very slightly declinate at the tip, rounded on the sides, as is 

 the lower, which has the edges inflected and acute; the gap-line straight, 

 slightly deflected at the base. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the 

 feathers. Head rather large, neck short, body robust. Legs of moderate 

 length, slender; tarsus longer than the middle toe, covered anteriorly with a 

 few longish scutella; toes scutellate above, free, the lateral ones nearly equal; 

 claws slender, greatly compressed, acute, slightly arched, that of the hind 

 toe little larger. 



Plumage soft, rather compact. Wings shortish, curved, rounded, the third 

 and fourth quills longest, the second nearly as long, the first little shorter. 

 Tail rather long, emarginate. 



Bill dusky. Iris brown. Feet flesh-colour. Upper part of the head, 

 anterior portion of the back, and scapulars, bright chestnut, with blackish- 

 brown spots, the middle of each feather being of the latter colour. Sides 

 of the neck and rump light greyish-blue, as are the smaller wing-coverts. 

 Quills, larger coverts and first row of smaller, dusky, the two latter tipped 



