BIRDS OF KANSAS. 475 



Iris brown; bill upper dark brown, edges of same and lower 

 mandible pale brown; legs and feet flesh color; claws light 

 brown. 



This species frequents the low, marshy grounds and borders 

 of streams, seldom visiting the high or cultivated lands, and they 

 are therefore only well known to the bird lovers who visit their 

 uninviting haunts. As a rule they are less timid than most birds 

 not ,farniliar with man, and, when cautiously approached, con- 

 tinue their search for food, as if regardless of his presence; 

 hopping about among the reeds and grasses, or running nimbly 

 over the ground, stopping to scratch now and then, and, in their 

 eagerness to catch minute snails, insects and floating seeds, 

 often wade until their bodies touch the water. During the 

 mated season, like most of the family, they are devoted lovers, 

 and both assist in the duties of rearing the young. At intervals 

 the birds utter a rather soft chip, and at times a harsh, scolding 

 note. Dr. Brewer, in "North American Land Birds," thus 

 happily describes its song: 



"Except in regard to their song, Wilson's account of their 

 habits, so far as it goes, is quite accurate, although this bird 

 really does have quite a respectable song, and one that improves 

 as the season advances. At first it is only a succession or repe- 

 tition of a few monotonous trilling notes, which might easily be 

 mistaken for the song of the Field Sparrow, or even confounded 

 with the feebler chant of the socialis, although not so varied as 

 the former, and is much more sprightly and pleasing than the 

 other. Still later its music improves, and more effort is made. 

 Like the Song Sparrow, it mounts some low twig, expands its 

 tail feathers, and gives forth a very sprightly trill, that echoes 

 through the swampy thicket with an effect which, once noted 

 and identified with the performer, is not likely to ever be mis- 

 taken. Nuttall calls this song loud, sweet and plaintive. It is 

 to my ear more sprightly than pathetic, and has a peculiar ven- 

 triloquistic effect, as if the performer were at a much greater 

 distance than he really is." 



Their nests are placed on low, wet, grassy lands. They are 

 composed almost wholly of dead grasses and lined with the finer 



