286 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



bottom-lands. In the northern parts, however, according to Mr. 

 Nelson, it is migratory. Mr. Nelson's remarks concerning it are 

 as follows : 



"Common during the migrations, from May 8th to 20th, and 

 September 20th to October 15th. Have seen several specimens 

 during the breeding season, and the last of May, 1875, as I was 

 walking through a patch of weeds, a female started from a few 

 feet in advance of me, while my attention was attracted in another 

 direction, and ran off with half- spread wings. It was shot, and 

 showed unmistakable sign of incubation, but a protracted search 

 failed to reveal the nest. Specimens were taken in July, 1875, near 

 Waukegan, by Mr. Bice." 



Melospiza georgiana (Lath.) 



SWAMP SPAKBOW. 



Popular synonyms. Swamp Song Sparrow; Spotted Swamp Sparrow. 



Fringilla georgiana LATH. Ind. Orn. i, 1790, 460. NUTT. Man. i. 1832. 502; 2d ed. i. 1840, 588. 



(s. g. Ammodromus). 



Melospiza georgiana RIDGW. Proc. U. S. Nat.Mus. viii, 1885, 355. 

 Fringilla palustris WILS. Am. Orn. iii. 1811, 49, pi. 22, flg. 1. AUD. Orn. Biog. i, 1831,331; 



v, 1839. 508, pi. 64. 



Ammodromus pa ustris AUD. Synop. 1839, 111; B. Am. iii. 1841, 110, pi. 175. 

 Melospiza palustris BAIED, B. N. Am. 1858, 483; Cat. N. Am. B, 1859, No. 369. COUES, 

 Key, 1872,138; Check List, 1873,No. 168; 2d ed. 1882, No. 243; B. N. W. 1874,137. B. B. & 

 R. Hist. N. Am. B. ii, 1874, 34, pi. 28, figs. 1, 2. RIDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 233. 



HAB. Eastern United States and British Provinces, north, occasionally, to Labrador 

 ind Newfoundland ; west, casually, to Utah ; breeding from northern border of United 

 States northward, and wintering chiefly south of 38. 



"Sr. CHAK. Middle of crown uniform chestnut; forehead black; superciliary streak, 

 sides of head and back, and sides of neck, ash. A brown stripe behind the eye. Back 

 with broad streaks of black, which are edged with rusty yellow. Beneath whitish, 

 tinged with ashy anteriorly, especially across the breast, and washed with yellowish 

 brown on the sides. A few obsolete streaks across the breast, which become distinct on 

 its sides. Wings and tail strongly tinged with rufous; the tertials black, the rufous edg- 

 ings changing abruptly to white towards the end. Length, 5.75; wing, 2.40. Female with 

 the crown scarcely reddish, streaked with black, and divided by a light line. Young con- 

 spicuously streaked beneath the head; above nearly uniform blackish. 



"In autumn the male of this species has the feathers of the crown 

 each with a black streak, and the centre of the crown with an in- 

 distinct light s'ripe, materially changing its appearance. The fore- 

 head is usually more or less streaked with black." (Hist.. N. 

 Am. B.) 



