CHIPPING SPARRO W. 2 Jl 



CHIPPING SPABKOW. {Fringilla socialis.) 



PLATE XVI.— Fig. 5. 



Passer domesticus, the Little House Sparrow, or Chipping Bird, Bartram, 

 p. 291.— Peale's Museum, No. 6571. 



EMBEBIZA SOCIALIS.— Swainson. 

 Fringilla socialis, Bonap. Synop. p. 109. 



This species, though destitute of the musical talents of the 

 former, is, perhaps, more generally known, because more 

 familiar, and even domestic. He inhabits, during summer, 

 the city, in common with man, building 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 a 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 sum- 

 mer, is a singular characteristic. Towards 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 colour, with a few dots 

 of purplish black near the great end. 



This species may easily be distinguished from the four 

 preceding ones by his black bill and frontlet, and by his 

 familiarity in summer ; yet, in the month of August and 

 September, when they moult their feathers, the black on the 

 front, and partially on the bill, disappears. The young are 

 also without the black during the first season. 



The chipping sparrow is five inches and a quarter long, 

 and eight inches in extent ; frontlet, black ; chin, and line 

 over the eye, whitish ; crown, chestnut ; breast and sides of 



