232 
TREE SPARROW. 
By some of our own naturalists this species has been con- 
founded with the Chipping Sparrow (fig. 5), which it very much 
resembles; but is larger and handsomer; and is never found with 
us in summer. The former departs for the south about the same 
time that the latter arrives from the north; and from this cir- 
cumstance, and their general resemblance, has arisen the mis- 
take. 
The Tree Sparrow is six inches and a half long, and nine and 
a half in extent; the whole upper part of the head is of a bright 
reddish chestnut, sometimes slightly skirted with gray; from 
the nostrils over the eye passes a white strip fading into pale 
ash as it extends back; sides of the neck, chin and breast very 
pale ash; the centre of the breast marked with an obscure spot 
of dark brown; from the lower angle of the bill proceeds a slight 
streak of chestnut; sides under the wings pale brown; back hand- 
somely streaked with pale drab, bright bay and black; lower 
part of the back and rump brownish drab; lesser wing coverts 
black, edged with pale ash; wings black, broadly edged with 
bright bay; the first and second row of coverts tipt with pure 
white; tail black, forked, and exteriorly edged with dull white; 
belly and vent brownish white; bill black above, yellow below; 
legs a brownish clay colour; feet black. The female is about 
half an inch shorter; the chestnut or bright bay on the wings, 
back and crown is less brilliant; and the white on the coverts 
narrower, and not so pure. These are all the differences I can 
perceive. 
