BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
239 
young they repair to fields and bushes preparatory to migrating south¬ 
ward. The nest, which is built in trees or shrubbery, is made up of 
dried grasses, or other fine vegetable materials, and lined with horse 
hair. The bluish-green eggs, four or five in number, are marked usually 
on the larger end with a ring of purplish and blackish-brown spots. 
They measure about .70 by .55 of an inch. 
This species, in the early spring and autumn, subsists principally on 
the small seeds of different weeds and grasses; in the summer months 
both the adults and young feed mainly on an insect diet, small beetles, 
ants, flies, spiders and numerous small “ worms ” are eagerly devoured. 
Pieces of bread, cake, or small particles of meat, are also eaten with ap¬ 
parent relish. 
Spizella pusilla (Wils.). 
Field Sparrow. 
Description {Plate 32. Fig. 2). 
Size about the same as the Chippy, but tail is longer than that of socialis. Bill 
light reddish ; crown dull-chestnut, with mostly an indistinct grayish stripe in 
center ; no black or white on head; back quite rusty, with blackish streaks ; sides of 
head more or less rusty ; back of neck ashy, washed with rusty; below whitish and 
unmarked, more or less tinged, especially anteriorily, and on sides, with grayish 
and pale rusty. 
Young .—Colors similar to adult but duller, breast and sides more or less streaked 
with dusky. Length about 5* inches ; extent about 8 inches. 
Habitat.— Eastern United States and southern Canada, west to the plains. 
Common summer resident from April to November, and during mild 
winters a few of these birds are sometimes found with us. The Field 
Sparrow, as its name signifies, is a frequenter of fields; it delights es¬ 
pecially to inhabit sandy weed-grown fields or other uncultivated areas 
where numerous small bushes, particularly wild roses, are growing. 
Its somewhat mournful, yet sweet and entertaining, song may be heard 
at all times of the day. The nest is built on the ground or in low 
bushes, and is composed chiefly of grasses, leaves and hair; eggs, four 
or five, white, spotted with reddish brown, measure about .70 by .50 of 
an inch. In the early spring, fall and winter months, this species feeds 
mainly on small seeds of various weeds and grasses. In summer the 
old and young subsist largely on different forms of insect life, such as 
small beetles, flies, ants, spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, earth-worms, 
and different larvae. They also feed on raspberries, blackberries and 
other similar soft fruits; it is not uncommon to see the bill and feathers 
about the head and neck of this bird more or less discolored by the 
juices of such fruit. 
