THE WILSON QUARTERLY. 79 



Melospiza georgiana. Swamp Sparrow. 



The range of Swamp Sparrow is rather more northerly 

 than that of the last. It does not occur in Texas and North 

 Carolina as a breeder, nor in central Io\v''a. I have not 

 found it at Oberlin, Ohio, though I presume it may be found 

 in the swamps on the lake shore. In Wisconsin it is 

 common in summer, according to Clark ; and abundant ac- 

 cording to Strong. There it begins to build the last week 

 in April, and eggs may be found as late as the first 

 of August. In New York the first nest was May 'i. Mr. 

 Sage records no nest from Connecticut, and the bird is un- 

 known to Maine observers. 



As its name suggests, it is preeminently a bird of the 

 swamps and lowlands, building its nest on the ground, a- 

 mong the rushes and sedges which abound where water 

 stands. The nest is made of rushes, dry grass, and hair, 

 after the pattern of Song Sparrow ; and its eggs so nearly 

 resemble those of that species that it is often difficult to dis- 

 tinguish between them ; they are, however, usually more 

 clouded, and the marking more indistinct. In size the}' 

 average .70 X .59, thus being larger than eggs of the last 

 species. The number of eggs in a set ranges from three to 

 five ; usually four. 



The period of incubation is thirteen days. 



Pipillo ei'ijtln-ophilnilinus. Chewink, Towhee. 



Towhee is not known south as a breeder. Messrs. Clark, 

 Howe, and Strong find it common in Wisconsin. In Iowa 

 and Ohio it is very common. It is fond of woods in wliich 

 underbrush is rank, and in little copses of brush. A brush 

 grown clearing is a favorite resort. 



Building begins May 1 in Iowa and Ohio. This spring I 

 found a nest containing three of Chewink and two of Cow- 

 bird. May 7 The eggs were addled. In Wisconsin nesting 

 begins a week later than in Iowa. July 1 is a rather ex- 

 treme date for fresh eggs. 



The nest is place I ou the ground preferably at the foot 

 of a bunch of brush or weeds, or at tlie foot of a tree ti- 

 a'ainst whicli leaves have di-ifted. I have found a few out in 



