RUEUS SPARROWS. G7 



bluish green in color, spotted and often quite coarsely blotched 

 with reddish brown, lilac and umber. The coarse blotches or 

 splashes are quite characteristic. 



General Habits. The Swamp Sparrow is a bird of rather 

 retiring habits, and as its name indicates, an inhabitant of 

 of low, marshy thickets. Here they somewhat resemble the 

 Song Sparrows, but are rather more shy than that species. 

 They arrive from the south in early April, and scatter over 

 the whole of New England, extending their range to Labrador 

 although a few are said to spend the winter regularly in 

 the Fresh Pond swamps near Cambridge, Massachusetts, the 

 greater number depart in early November. 



Song. In autumn, the Swamp Sparrows give a short, low 

 murmuring warble which is quite pleasing; they also have a 

 soft, chirp, and give a series of querulous sounding notes 

 when disturbed. The true song uttered in spring and sum- 

 mer, consists of a series of rather lisping, chipping notes 

 forming a sprightly trill, which somewhat resembles the lay 

 of the Chipping Sparrow, 



Genus. RUFUS SPARROVvS. Passerella. 



Rather large, stout Sparrows with the pervading color above 

 rufus, white beneath, distinctly spotted with rufus. No white 

 markings on wings nor tail. Bill, stout. Wings, longer than 

 the square tail. Sexes similar. 



