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 tlie 
time when it makes its appearance. It is one of the most confiding of our 
visitors, not un frequently 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 decimate 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 
