CHIPPING SPARROW. 
333 
these birds are at that season numerous, and roost together 
near the margin of the reeds, almost in the society of the 
Blackbirds, who seek out a similar place of warmth and shelter 
as the chilling frosts begin to prevail. 
At this cool and gloomy season, and down to the close of 
the first week in November, as they pass from branch to 
branch and play capriciously round each other, they keep up 
almost perpetually a low and pleasant liquid warble, not much 
unlike that of the Yellow Bird {Fringilla tristis), but less 
varied. Sometimes two or three at the same time will tune up 
s'weedit s’weedit weet, and s'waidit s'waidit weet, accompanied 
by some tremulous trilling and variation, which, though rather 
sad and querulous, is heard at this silent season with peculiar 
delight. In summer, during the breeding-time, they express 
considerable melody. 
According to Mr. Hutchins they breed around the Hudson 
Bay settlements, making a nest in the herbage, formed exter- 
nally of dry grass, and lined with soft hair or down, probably 
from vegetables, in the manner of the Yellow Bird. About the 
beginning of April they leave the Middle States for their sum- 
mer quarters, and arrive around Severn River in May ; they 
also probably propagate in Newfoundland, where they have 
been observed. With us they are still seen in numbers to the 
ipth of April. 
Numbers of the Tree Sparrow winter regularly in the Maritime 
Provinces o£ Canada. Macoun reports the species common in 
summer at Lake Mistassini, which lies a little to the southward of 
Hudson Bay. 
CHIPPING SPARROW. 
CHIPPY. HAIR-BIRD. 
Spizella SOCIALIS. 
Char. Above, streaked with grayish brown, black, and bay ; crown 
chestnut ; forehead black ; sides of head and neck ashy ; dull white line 
over eyes ; dusky stripe from bill through eyes ; tail forked and dusky 
with pale edgings ; wings with two white bars ; below, dull white, tinged 
with ash on breast and sides. Length about 5J4 inches. 
