SAND DUNES AND SALT MARSHES 



but in a more rapid fashion, by the lesser 

 yellow-legs. 



So much for the water birds of the salt 

 marshes; they are a charming group and 

 much more could be said of their delightful 

 ways. There are certain land birds to be men- 

 tioned, however, that are equally at home in 

 these regions. Chief and most characteristic 

 of these is the sharp-tailed sparrow, a bird 

 that bears the same relation to salt m^arshes 

 that marsh wrens do to fresh Avater marshes. 

 The sharp-tails are difficult birds to find, and 

 are generally an unknown quantity to the 

 casual observer. Thev conceal their nests in 

 the grass of the higher parts of the marshes, 

 and under windrows of dead thatch. They 

 move about like mice running with head low, 

 and, when flushed, fly concealed, if possible, 

 between the banks of a ditch. On alighting 

 they at once disappear in the grass. How- 

 ever, one can become intimate with them by 

 the exercise of due caution and patience, and 

 they will even sit near at hand on a swaying 

 grass blade and pour forth their song. I have 

 heard the song given fifteen times in a minute 

 by an ardent performer, and I suppose that 

 his lady-love appreciated it. There is no ac- 



248 



