SWAMP SPARROW 155 



were Song Sparrows or Fox Sparrows, but as in many simi- 

 lar cases, a doubtful Fox Sparrow is probably a spurious 

 one ; the genuine Fox Sparrow is so very tawny that, when 

 he really appears, no doubt of his identity is left in the 

 mind. The White-throated Sparrow's period of migration 

 slightly overlaps the Fox Sparrow's, both in April and 

 October, but the tail of the former is grayish-brown. The 

 Fox Sparrow is not infrequently mistaken for the Hermit 

 Thrush ; the tail is reddish-brown in both birds, but the 

 back and head of the Thrush and his breast-markings have 

 none of the rich tawny color of the Sparrow. 



Swamp Sparrow. Melospiza georgiana 

 5.89 



Ad. in summer. — Crown rich reddish-brown, blackish on the 

 forehead; back brown, streaked with black; wings reddish-brown; 

 breast and sides of throat ashy gray, uustreaked; throat whitish; 

 flanks washed with brownish. Ad. in winter and Im. — Crown 

 streaked with black and reddish-brown. 



Nest, on the ground. Eggs, whitish, thickly covered with brown- 

 ish markings. 



The Swamp Sparrow breeds in any extensive grassy 

 swamp throughout New England and the Hudson Valley, 

 arriving early in April, and remaining through October. 

 Along the sea-coast of southern New England and New 

 York, where the winter is not very severe, it occasionally 

 winters in the edges of the cat-tail swamps. In migration, 

 especially in September and early October, when Swamp 

 Sparrows are often abundant, they may occur at some dis- 

 tance from swamps or wet meadows. 



The song of the Swamp Sparrow is simple but musical, 

 as if a Chipping Sparrow were singing in the marshes an 

 unusually sweet song. Toward evening the birds make 

 many little twittering and scolding sounds, as they pursue 

 each other to and fro. The call-note is a metallic chink, 



