166 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



Fig. 47. Seaside Sparrow 



well as by the Sharp-tailed Sparrow, while north of Rhode 

 Island only the latter is found. Both species inhabit the 



marshes along the Ar- 

 thur Kill, on Staten 

 Island. The Seaside 

 Sparrows arrive in 

 May, and can be found 

 in the marshes till Oc- 

 tober, but the breed- 

 ing season, June and 

 July, is the best time 

 to visit them, for then 

 they and their relatives, the Sharp-tailed Sparrows, are 

 found well out in the marsh, and hardly any other species of 

 Sparrow with them. The grass, too, is short, and progress 

 not difficult. As one looks over the level expanse, small 

 birds are seen flying jerkily up and dropping down again 

 a short distance beyond. Occasionally one flies to a con- 

 siderable height, and sings as he drops back. The birds 

 cling to the coarse grass along the tidal streams or ditches, 

 or to the old stalks of high-tide bushes (Iva). Here they 

 utter their feeble trisyllabic song, the last syllable a 

 wheeze. 



From their relatives the Sharp-tails they may be easily 

 distinguished by their dark gray look, due to the absence of 

 bun on the sides of the head ; the Sharp-tails* have so much 

 buff about the head that they are almost bright colored. 

 From the Swamp Sparrows, which also have a white throat, 

 the gray look and the absence of rich reddish-brown on the 

 flanks should distinguish them ; note, too, the Seaside Spar- 

 row's long bill. There are generally Long-billed Marsh 

 Wrens associated with the Seaside Sparrows in the coarse 

 grass along the ditches, but the Wrens are smaller birds, 

 and they cock their tails over their backs with an absurd 

 effect. 



