192 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



560. Spizella socialis (WiLS.). 



Chipping Sparrow. 



DESCRIPTION. (Plate SO; Fig. 3, male.) 



Rump, back of neck, and sides of neck and head, ashy ; interscapular region with 

 black streaks, margined with pale-rufous ; crown continuous and uniform chestnut ; 

 forehead black, separated in the middle by white ; a white streak over the eye, and 

 a black one from the base of the bill through and behind the eye ; under parts un- 

 spotted whitish, tinged with ashy, especially across the upper breast ; tail feathers 

 and primaries edged with paler, not white ; two narrow white bands across the wing 

 coverts ; bill dark brown or black ; legs light brown ; eyes brown. 



Young. Crown brownish, streaked with blackish, streak over eye yellowish 

 white ; breast and sides with dusky lines ; bill light brown. Length about 5^ inches ; 

 extent about 8| inches. 



ffab. Eastern North America, west to the Rocky Mountains, north to Great Slave 

 Lake, and south to Eastern Mexico. 



The Chipping Sparrow, so named from its note, is an abundant sum- 

 mer resident from early in April to the latter part of October. In the 

 spring these birds are generally seen singly or in pairs ; in the late 

 summer and fall the adults and young collect together and are to be 

 found in flocks in company with other species, especially the Field 

 and Vesper Sparrows. Chipping Sparrows are common frequenters 

 about the habitations of man during the breeding season, but after 

 rearing their young they repair to fields and bushes preparatory to 

 migrating southward. The nest which is built in trees, or shrubbery, 

 is made up of dried grasses, or other fine vegetable materials, and lined 

 with horse hair. The bluish-green eggs, 4 or 5 in number, are marked, 

 usually on the larger end with a ring of purplish and blackish-brown 

 spots. They measure about .70 by .55 of an inch. 



This species, in the early spring and autumn, subsists principally on 

 the small seeds of different weeds and grasses ; in the summer months 

 both the adults and young feed mainly on an insect diet, small beetles, 

 ants, flies, spiders and numerous small " worms " are eagerly devoured. 

 Pieces of bread, cake, or small particles of meat, are also eaten with 

 apparent relish. 



563. Spizella pusilla (WiLS.). 



Field Sparrow. 



DESCRIPTION. (Plate 32; Fig. 2, male.) 



Bill light reddish-brown ; legs pale brown ; iris brown ; crown dull chestn ut ; back 

 somewhat similar, streaked with blackish ; sides of head and neck (including a su- 

 perciliary stripe) ashy ; ear coverts rufous ; beneath white, tinged with yellowish 

 anteriorly ; tail feathers and quills faintly edged with white ; two white bands across 

 the wing coverts. This species is about the size of the Chipping Sparrow, but is more 

 rufous above ; lacks the black forehead and eye-stripe ; has chestnut ears instead of 

 ash ; the bill is reddish instead of blackish ; lacks the clear ash of the rump ; has the 

 tail longer. It is much smaller than the Tree Sparrow which it approaches in colors 

 but lacks the breast spot and predominance of white on the wings. 



