594 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



to indicate that there were six pair of birds breeding in this 

 limited region. The males poised and swayed on the tussocks 

 of sedge and in the bushes, uttering their little song before 

 described, then diving down into the sedges and working their 

 way along out of sight with a grating, rasping call note, occa- 

 sionally peering out at me. Judging by the specimens taken 

 and comparing their actions while living with those of others 

 seen, the males are more often seen and the females only seldom. 



Though I have known these birds in this station for nine 

 years now, I can add but little to the account given above of 

 my first experience with them. The earliest date of arrival 

 which is before me is May seventeenth, but I feel quite sure 

 that I have seen the species at least two weeks earlier and made 

 record of the fact in a note book which is mislaid so that the 

 exact date is not forthcoming. In the fall they remain until 

 at least October tenth. Careful search at intervals during 

 each season has failed so far in revealing any nests, though it 

 is most evident that they breed. They feed on the various 

 kinds of small insects found in the meadow such as beetles, 

 grubs, caterpillars, mosquitoes, caddis flies, moths, small butter- 

 flies and similar living things which they can catch while 

 resting in the grass or on the ground. 



Those who have found nests in other states describe them as 

 spherical structures, composed of grass and sedges with the 

 entrance on one side, the interior lined with cat-tail and other 

 plant down, and they are said to be situated in a tussock of 

 tall grass or sedges. Four to ten pure white eggs are said to 

 be laid, averaging 0.62 x 0.46. Usually eggs are said to be 

 laid about the middle of June, but the sedges and grasses in 

 the Bangor meadow do not reach sufficient height to aflTord 

 nesting shelter until well along in July, although there is 

 opportunity for them to nest in the dry bent-over sedges of the 

 previous season, in which case their nests would be nearly on 

 the ground and very difficult to find. 



