TREE SPARROW. [Plate XVI.-Fig. 3.] Le Soulciet, Buff. 111, 500.—Moineau de Canada, BRISS. III, 101. p. 373, THIS Sparrow is a native of the north, who takes up his winter quarters in Pennsylvania, and most of the northern states, as well as several of the southern ones. He arrives here about the beginning of November; and leaves us again early in April; associates in flocks with the Snow-birds, frequents sheltered hollows, thickets, and hedge-rows, near springs of water; and has a low warbling note, scarcely audible at the distance of twenty or thirty yards. If disturbed takes to trees, like the Whitethroated Sparrow, but contrary to the habit of most of the others, who are inclined rather to dive into thickets. Edwards erroneously represented this as the female of the Mountain Sparrow; but that judicious and excellent naturalist, Pennant, has given a more correct account of it, and informs us, that it inhabits the country bordering on Hudson's bay during summer; comes to Severn settlement in May; advances farther north to breed; and returns in autumn on its way southward. It also visits Newfoundland.t * The specific name, canadensis, given by BRISSON and adopted by Latham, must be restored to this bird. The following synonymes may be quoted. Frin gilla monticola, GMEL. Syst. 1, p. 912.-Passer Canadensis, BRISS. III, p. 102. 15.-Id. 8vo. 1, p. 335.-Mountain Finch, LATH. Syn. 111, p. 265. 16.-Fringilla canadensis, LATH. Ind. Orn. 1, p. 434. † Arct. Zool, vol. II, p. 373. By some of our own naturalists this species has been confounded with the Chipping Sparrow (fig. 5), which it very much resembles; but is larger and handsomer; and is never found with us in summer. The former departs for the south about the same time that the latter arrives from the north; and from this circumstance, and their general resemblance, has arisen the mistake. The Tree Sparrow is six inches and a half long, and nine and a half in extent; the whole upper part of the head is of a bright reddish chestnut, sometimes slightly skirted with gray; from the nostrils over the eye passes a white strip fading into pale ash as it extends back; sides of the neck, chin and breast very pale ash; the centre of the breast marked with an obscure spot of dark brown; from the lower angle of the bill proceeds a slight streak of chestnut; sides under the wings pale brown; back handsomely streaked with pale drab, bright bay and black; lower part of the back and rump brownish drab; lesser wing coverts black, edged with pale ash; wings black, broadly edged with bright bay; the first and second row of coverts tipt with pure white; tail black, forked, and exteriorly edged with dull white; belly and vent brownish white; bill black above, yellow below; legs a brownish clay colour; feet black. The female is about half an inch shorter; the chestnut or bright bay on the wings, back and crown is less brilliant; and the white on the coverts narrower, and not so pure. These are all the differences I can perceive. SONG SPARROW. [Plate XVI.-Fig. 4.] Fasciated Finch? Arct. Zool. p. 375, No. 252.--PEALE'S Museum, No. 6573. So nearly do many species of our Sparrows approximate to each other in plumage, and so imperfectly have they been taken notice of, that it is absolutely impossible to say, with certainty, whether the present species has ever been described or not. And yet, of all our Sparrows, this is the most numerous, the most generally diffused over the United States, and by far the earliest, sweetest, and most lasting songster. It may be said to be partially migratory, many passing to the south in the month of November; and many of them still remaining with us, in low close sheltered meadows and swamps, during the whole of winter. It is the first singing bird in spring, taking precedence even of the Pewee and Blue-bird. Its song continues occasionally during the whole summer and fall; and is sometimes heard even in the depth of winter. The notes, or chant, are short but very sweet, resembling the beginning of the Canary's song, and frequently repeated, generally from the branches of a bush or small tree, where it sits chanting for an hour together. It is fond of frequenting the borders of rivers, meadows, swamps, and such like watery places; and if wounded, and unable to fly, will readily take to the water, and swim with considerable rapidity. In the great cypress swamps of the southern states in the depth of winter, I observed multitudes of these birds mixed with several other species; for these places appear to be the grand winter rendezvous of almost all our Sparrows. I have found this bird in every district of the United States from CaVOL. II. -G g nada to the southern boundaries of Georgia; but Mr. Abbot informs me, that he knows of only one or two species that remain in that part of Georgia during the summer. The Song Sparrow builds in the ground, under a tuft of grass; the nest is formed of fine dry grass, and lined with horse hair; the eggs are four or five, thickly marked with spots of reddish brown on a white, sometimes bluish white ground; if not interrupted, he raises three broods in the season. I have found his nest with young as early as the twenty-sixth of April, and as late as the twelfth of August. What is singular, the same bird often fixes his nest in a cedar tree, five or six feet from the ground. Supposing this to have been a variety, or different species, I have examined the bird, nest and eggs, with particular care, several times; but found no difference. I have observed the same accidental habit in the Red-winged Blackbird, which sometimes builds among the grass, as well as on alder bushes. This species is six inches and a half long, and eight and a half in extent; upper part of the head dark chestnut, divided, laterally, by a line of pale dirty white; spot at each nostril yellow ochre; line over the eye inclining to ash; chin white; streak from the lower mandible, slit of the mouth, and posterior angle of the eye, dark chestnut; breast and sides under the wings thickly marked with long pointed spots of dark chestnut, centered with black, and running in chains; belly white; vent yellow ochre, streaked with brown; back streaked with black, bay, and pale ochre; tail brown, rounded at the end, the two middle feathers streaked down their centres with black; legs flesh coloured; wing coverts black, broadly edged with bay, and tipt with yellowish white; wings dark brown. The female is scarcely distinguishable by its plumage from the male. The bill in both horn coloured. CHIPPING SPARROW. [Plate XVI.-Fig. 5.] Passer domesticus, the little House Sparrow, or Chipping-bird, BARTRAM, p. 291.-PEALE'S Museum, No. 6571. 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 summer, 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 net 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 preceding ones, by his black bill and frontlet, and by his familiarity in summer; yet, in the month of August and September, when they moult, the black on the front and partially on the bill disappears. The young are also without the black during the first season. |