General Notes. 
Taming Chipping Sparrows. — I noticed in the last number of ‘The 
Auk’ (Vol. XI, p. 256) a reference to the taming of a Chipping Sparrow 
(■ Spizella socialis ). My father has always had a great fondness for birds 
and has devoted a great deal of time to ornithology. Some four or five 
years ago, at my home in Nelson County, Virginia, there were several 
pairs of Chipping Sparrows building in the rose bushes around the porch 
along the front of the house. It was the custom of my father upon leaving 
the breakfast table every morning to put several pieces of bread in his 
pocket with which he fed the dogs who always were waiting his appear- 
ance. He generally threw a few crumbs on the floor of the porch for the 
Chipping Sparrows and they soon learned to expect his coming. Setting 
to work in a methodical way he soon had one of the little birds so tame 
that it would perch on his hand and pick crumbs from his palm, and in a 
short while it became so familiar as to go to any one of the household in 
the same way. (I send with this three photographs which show the 
bird perched on and feeding from the hand of different members of the 
family.) 
In the fall the bird left with the other migrants, but, to our surprise, 
returned in the spring without any symptoms of shyness, evidently 
remembering us all. It returned for three successive years, and each 
time raised two broods of young. Last year it failed to appear, so I 
suppose has lived out its little life. — Wirt Robinson, 1st. Li. 4th U. S. 
Art., Washington Barracks , Washington , D. C. 
Auk XI. Oct. 1864 p. 328 
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