1S87.] Dvvight on a New Race of Sharp-tailed Sparroz<j. 239 



tanceof a few yards, and at its best is suggestive of the bird's 

 being choked in the attempt. It resembles, as nearly as I can 

 represent it, Vic — se-e-e-t-oop, and the gasping se-e-e-e is usually 

 all that is heard unless one is very close to the soloist. It is 

 usually delivered from the top of a weed, where, as the bird sits 

 crouching, he presents an absurd appearance of ill-concealed 

 fright. Sometimes he springs up into the air, particularly 

 towards evening, and setting his wings floats down into the grass 

 fairly gushing with song — such as it is. This performance may 

 be compared with that of A. maritimus, for the songs of the two 

 birds are modelled after the same pattern. But I mitst not take 

 up any more space in describing habits that, so far as I have 

 observed, are little different from those of true caudaciitus. I 

 was unable to discover any nests. I think, however, that two 

 broods may be reared, as, on my arrival July 15, young were 

 already on the wing, and it was almost impossible to find any 

 females. I was not on the ground during August, but in 

 September the birds were rather scarce. On September 30 

 they appeared in numbers, probably from some more northern 

 locality, and on October 4 I saw the last of them. 



I imagine they are found in their present environment because 

 no salt marshes happen to be convenient. I frequently found 

 them along a swampy brook fully a mile from salt water, frater- 

 nizing with Swamp Sparrows and Maryland Yellow-throats 

 among the alder bushes. The locality on the Kenebecasis River, 

 where Mr. Chamberlain obtained his specimens, is of similar 

 character, and he informs me that the bird has been taken at 

 Sackville, where the marshes are similar to, but much more 

 extensive than those of the Petitcodiac. There is every reason to 

 suppose that the bird is found in neighboring localities, but at 

 present I cannot prove it. If I have been successful in introduc- 

 ing to notice a bird that has been fairly in our midst and yet not 

 recognized as a stranger, I shall feel that my efforts have not been 

 in vain, and I hope that this stranger, now that he presents his 

 proper credentials, may not prove an unwelcome guest. 



