DELAWARE ViVLLEY ORNITHOLOGICAIj CLUB. 25 



about two acres in area, lies along the river bank between Tioga 

 street and the canal, its western boundary consisting of a dump. 

 It is inhabited during the summer months by several pairs of 

 Marsh Wrens (Tehnatodytes jmlustris). It is the deepest as well 

 as the smallest marsh, but the water is polluted with the refuse 

 from a nearby paper mill, which accounts for the absence of 

 water birds. 



Intermediate between the canal which is used by a paper mill 

 as a reservoir and not for transportation purposes, and Ontario 

 street lies the next largest marsh which comprises about six 

 acres or more. Its eastern boundary is the river bank and its 

 western a dump. It is covered with a thick, dense, tangled 

 growth of tall cattail rushes growing in mud and water about a 

 foot in depth. 



Many a time have I searched this marsh for nests of Rails and 

 Least Bitterns but without success* except on one occasion, on 

 May 29, 1903, when I found a Virginia Rail's nest, which, 

 however, was subsequently deserted. The Long-billed Marsh 

 Wrens are the only birds that I have found nesting in it during 

 the last two years. The Least Bitterns have on several occa- 

 sions been observed flying to and from the marsh late in July 

 and early in August, after the breeding season, and had doubt- 

 less been feeding there. 



The main section of the marsh lies between Westmoreland 

 and Ontario streets. The two streets are dirt-covered sewers, 

 unopened and used only by casual pedestrians to and from the 

 river. The river bank carries a railroad which is daily used by 

 a noisy shifting engine, and a large dump on the west is worked 

 daily by numerous men and boys. 



In the immediate vicinity of the marsh there are several large 

 manufacturing plants. This marsh is covered with a growth of 

 calamus and cattail, with some spots of open water and num- 

 erous patches of spatterdock mostly along the borders. 



Sphagnum floats on the surface of the water in many places 

 or just below it, and duckweed on some days fairly covers 

 it. The marsh is about six feet below the surface of the 

 streets, and is drained by several sluices, the water rising and 

 falling with the tide in the Delaware River, and is thus always 



