IO2 Land Birds of JVew England 



beneath the fallen leaves ; and he has the habit of 

 scratching among them much like a hen, although, 

 unlike a hen, he manages to scratch with both feet 

 at once. When frightened he usually takes to the 

 trees. 



The russet groundbird bold 

 With both slim feet at once will lightly 

 rake the mold. SILL. 



Breeding takes place in the regions about Hud- 

 son's Bay and farther north. The nest is placed 

 amid moss or on a low bush. 



The song is one of the very best of all the spar- 

 row songs. It may often be heard in the early morn- 

 ing in April, and less frequently in the 'fall. Minot 

 remarks that it is sometimes abridged to a sweet 

 warble, to which twitters are occasionally added. 



It is said that they sing during migration only 

 when present in considerable numbers. 



51. SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana.) 



Upper parts streaked with bay, black, and flaxen, brown of wings 

 and tail especially reddish ; head with broad gray line above the 

 eye; under parts ash-gray obscurely mottled and passing into 

 olive-brown on the sides of the belly. Beak conical, dark brown ; 

 feet brown. Bird a little smaller than an English sparrow. 

 Sexes similar. 



THIS shy little bird comes to us in early April, 

 and remains until the end of October, or even early 



