5-] 



Loomis, Notes on Birth of Chester County, S. C. 



I 9 I 



neglected 'old fields.' This Sparrow displays a very marked preference for 

 dry ground. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the 'black-jack' fields 

 of broom-sedge, which become somewhat boggy after protracted rains. At 

 such times the level tracts are deserted for the gentle declivities, or, if 

 these are wanting, for some more congenial locality, while in ordinary 

 showers they escape from the dense grass, saturated with water, to the 

 thinner growth of the lighter soils. When under the shelter of the thick 

 sedge, few birds are more difficult to get on wing, as they allow them- 

 selves to be nearly trod upon before removing. On one occasion a bird 

 rose so near me it became entangled in my shooting coat. Again, under 

 cover, they are still more difficult to start; although the spot be carefully 

 noted and the ground thoroughly tramped over. In my earlier experi- 

 ences I was often completely puzzled, but later observation revealed uni- 

 formity in their movements. Their most common way of escape is to lie 

 still until you have passed, then suddenly jumping up from behind, dart off 

 to one side. An assistant, by watching this manoeuvre, greatly facilitates 

 their capture. In one instance a second ally, a keen-nosed setter, was 

 found useful, doing effective service when all efforts had proved unavail- 

 ing. Again, as the chance may be, they will steal away in the thick sedge, 

 or fly off through the open weeds. Briers and tall swamp grass are ever 

 resorted to for protection. To gain the latter they will fly directly by the 

 collector, if he happens to cut off the retreat, and when once under this 

 friendly shelter, no amount of thrashing will bring them out. Sometimes 

 they take to bushes and saplings, beginning at the lower limbs and hop- 

 ping upward. One specimen was shot about ten feet above the ground- 

 When not concealed, but in short grass, they are very tame, allowing one 

 to approach within a few feet, and then running off a little way and stop- 

 ping to look back. Their flight is low. and usually feeble and unpro- 

 tracted, but under repeated molestations it becomes rapid and prolonged. 

 In one instance a bush some six feet in height was cleared. 



During their sojourn here they become very fat. The stomachs of birds 

 examined through the winter contained several kinds of small seeds and 

 fine gravel. 



In certain specimens before me, secured during November, December, 

 and January, narrow streaks extend in a band, about half an inch in width, 

 across the jugulum. These markings are also continued toward the bill, 

 forming noticeable maxillary lines. 



The measurements of fifty-four examples, taken in the flesh, are as 

 follows : — 



Maximum 

 Minimum 

 Average . 



