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THE SWAMP SPARROW. 



Northern States northward, and winters from Massachusetts south to the Gulf 

 States. 



Range in Ohio. — Common migrant along streams and in low places. Breeds 

 only casually. 



THE Swamp Sparrow is well named, but its designation must be un- 

 derstood in the broadest sense. Not only is it to be found in the sedgy fast- 

 nesses of the more pretentious swamps, but in the wayside bog, and along the 

 tangled edges of woodland watercourses as well. In many respects it de- 

 serves to be classed with the inhabitants of that under-world of muck and 

 sedge where the Rails and Gallinules live and move and have their being. 

 Sh) and secretive to a degree, the Swamp Sparrow will often worm through 

 the intricacies of a half-submerged brush-heap and splash its way afoot to 

 another rather than take wing. Again, if the observer is quiet, the bird will 

 hop about carefully through the reeds and survey him from all sides witli 

 the curiosity of a Wren. Several times in spring I have seen them feeding 

 along the shallows of the Olentangy River in company with Water Thrushes, 

 wading about and dabbling in the water with almost the freedom of a Sand- 

 piper, but upon the first hint of alarm the Sparrows would scuttle off to the 

 shelter of the brush. 



( Ine is slow to suspect such a demure bird of having a sprightly song. 

 < In several occasions, however, while wading about knee deep in some shaded 

 l)i», 1, 1 have been startled by a sudden trill of unusual energy and distinct- 

 ness, which undoubtedly proceeded from this bird. On some occasions the 

 song is almost as peremptory as that of the Water Thrush, while at othera 

 it seems more like the vivacious ditty of the Palm Warbler rendered fortissimo. 

 It lias frequently been likened to that of the Field or Chipping Sparrows, 

 but in my opinion, comparison with any other Sparrow song will not be 

 found helpful. 



Only one instance is known as yet of the bird's breeding within the 

 state. Late in May, 1881, Dr. Howard Jones of Circleville secured a nest 

 of five eggs, together with the parent bird. Dr. Jones bad been walking 

 slowly along a small ditch which drained a field of wet grassland, and was 

 about to step across it when the mother bird flew from under his feet. After 

 some search he found the nest hidden under a bunch of long grass. "It is 

 made principally of coarse grasses and frayed weed-stems — a few rootlets 

 are to be seen in the foundation, and the lining is composed of grasses. The 

 diameter of the cavity is two inches, it- depth one and one-half inches. When 

 in position, the rim of the nest was on a level with the surrounding sod. and 

 a long tuft <>f grass concealed it from above and protected it from the weather." 



Dr. Jones savs further: "This j, the onl\ nest of the species I have found, 

 altho I have frequently searched for it. The kind of country inhabited by 



