CHIPPING SPARROW. 
271 
CHIPPING SPARROW FRINGILLA SOCIALIS. 
Plate XVI. Fig. 5. 
Passer domesticus, The Little House Sparrow, or Chipping Bird, Bar tram, p. 291 
Beale's Museum , No. 6571. 
EMBERIZA 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 pre- 
ceding ones, by his black bill and frontlet, and by his familiarity 
in summer ; ye.t, 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 
