238 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA . 
Habitat .—Eastern North America, westward to the plains, and from the Arctic 
ocean ; south in winter, to the Carolinas, Kentucky and eastern Kansas. Breeds 
north of the United States, east of the Rocky mountains. 
This hardy sparrow, the largest of the genus, is an abundant winter 
resident from late in October to about the middle of April. We find 
them in flocks, often in company with Snow-birds and other sparrows, 
frequenting briery thickets, shrubbery, old fields where various weeds 
abound, and about hedge rows. Weedy spots near the edge of woods, 
or similar situations in or near briery places along the borders of small 
creeks are also favorite feeding grounds for them. The food of this 
species during its stay with us, consists almost entirely of the seeds of 
various weeds, grasses, etc.; cedar berries and wild grapes are also some¬ 
times fed upon. I have never known the Tree Sparrow to disturb the 
buds or blossoms of any trees or bushes, as some writers assert it is ac¬ 
customed to do in the spring before migrating northward. The name 
of Tree Sparrow is given, not because the bird is always found in trees 
or bushes, but from its common habit of flying from the ground or 
thickets into trees when disturbed. This bird not only frequently nests 
on the ground, but likewise collects the greater portion of its food from 
the earth. Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, informs me that he 
had for some years, several pairs of these birds in an enclosure of net¬ 
work, 24x75 feet and about 12 feet high. They built nests, but in only 
a few instances did they lay their full sets of eggs, and none succeeded 
in hatching them. 
Spizella socialis (Wils.). 
Chipping Sparrow; Chippy. 
Description (Plate SO. Pig. s). 
Length about inches; extent about 8^; bill dark-brown or blackish ; legs pale- 
brownish ; feathers of forehead about base of maxilla black ; crown bright-chestnut; 
a whitish stripe from base of maxilla, along the chestnut crown ; black spot in front 
of eye and a black streak behind it; below whitish, or pale ashy, and unspotted; 
two whitish and narrow wing bars ; rump, back and sides of neck ashy ; middle of 
back brownish, with conspicuous black streaks. 
Young.— Crown brownish, streaked with blackish, streak over eye yellowish- 
white ; breast and sides with dusky lines ; bill light brown. 
Habitat.— Eastern North America, west to the Rocky mountains, north to Great 
Slave Lake, and south to eastern Mexico. 
The Chipping Sparrow, so named from its note, is an abundant sum¬ 
mer resident from early in April to the latter part of October. In the 
spring these birds are generally seen singly or in pairs; in the late sum¬ 
mer and fall the adults and young collect together and are to be found 
in flocks in company with other species, especially the Field and Vesper 
Sparrows. Chipping Sparrows are common frequenters about the hab¬ 
itations of man during the breeding season, but after rearing their 
