LINCOLN'S SPARROW 1441 



the territories, either because they temporarily abandoned territories 

 or perhaps because they did not sing in such weather. We were not 

 able to stay through the summer in 1956 and 1957, but in 1955 the 

 Lincoln's sparrows were present and feeding 3 7 oung on the trout 

 hatchery property until mid-September. It appears likely, therefore, 

 that the territories are occupied until the birds migrate in autumn. 



Nesting. — Lewis Mel. Terrill (MS.) has found a number of nests 

 of the Lincoln's sparrow in Quebec, most of them "in shallow depres- 

 sions on sphagnum mounds concealed by Ledum bushes and resting 

 on the accumulation of fallen Ledum leaves. The outstanding 

 materials composing the rather frail structures were leached sedges, 

 especially the filiform, wiry stems of such species as Car ex trisperma 

 and C. leptalea, which commonly drape the sphagnum mounds in 

 the Lincoln's sparrow's habitat." 



He writes further (MS.) : 



In the St. Lawrence River Valley below Quebec this sparrow becomes decidedly 

 more common, especially in the Riviere du Loup, Matane, and Gaspe" Counties. 

 Preference is shown for the dryer, bushier portions of sphagnum bogs, particularly 

 the older bogs suitable for the production of peat rather than the wet sphagnum 

 of newer bogs. A typical nesting habitat is the extensive, rather dry savanne 

 known as Caribou Plains, near Corner of the Beach, Gaspe - County, where three 

 were seen with food and about ten heard singing on July 7, 1941. Here they 

 frequented the fringe of the bog amongst the heaths (chiefly Ledum, Kalmia, and 

 Rhodora), with scattered shrubby conifers and a ground cover of Cloudberry 

 (Rubus Chamaemorus) though somewhat farther out in the open bog than their 

 principal nesting associates, the Yellow Palm warbler and the Yellow-throat. 



At Metis, Matane County, the Lincoln's Sparrow also nests in boggy clearings 

 where the old stumps are partly hidden in the new growth; also among low alder 

 fringing streams. An unusual habitat was near the top of Mount Logan (Shick- 

 shock Mts.), Gaspe\ where four were heard singing amongst scrubby conifers at 

 an altitude of about 3000 feet on July 6, 1937. Several Black-poll warblers 

 appeared to be their only companions. 



In our experience, the nest of Lincoln's sparrow is very difficult to 

 find. Although we made a special effort in the Thunder Bay District 

 of Ontario in 1956, we failed to find a nest with eggs. By the time 

 incubation was underway, we had settled down to watch one pair 

 whose activities could be conveniently observed from our parked car. 

 With black flies, "no-see-ums," and mosquitoes active and plentiful, 

 a parked and closed car seemed the only livable observation point in 

 the country. After several days we had the nest nearly pinpointed, 

 but, alas, not definitely located. We determined its approximate 

 position by making minute-by-minute notes for more than 7 hours on 

 June 23 and June 24. On the latter day we pointed out the place 

 where we thought the nest should be to Dr. and Mrs. A. E. Allin of 

 Fort William. All four of us set out to comb the area on hands and 



