118 SWAMP SPARROW. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of fifteen specimens. Length, 5-70; stretch, 7'76; wing, 2'85; tail, 2-23; bill, '45; tarsus, -82. 

 Longest specimen, O'OO; greatest extent of wing, 8' 12; longest wing, 2'60; tail, 2'35; bill, '50; tarsus, '90. Shortest speci- 

 men, 5'40; smallest extent of wing, 7'40; shortest wing, 2 - 30; tail, 2'12; bill, '41; tarsus, '75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground, composed of dried grass and weeds, lined with ner grass. Dimensions; external diam- 

 eter, 4'00, internal, 2'50. External depth, 2'75, internal, T75. 



Eyys, four or five in number, oval in form, pale-blue in color, spotted and dotted quite finely with reddish-brown and 

 lilac. Dimensions from '5Cx '75 to '60x '80. 



HABITS. 



I know of but few if any localities north of Florida where the vegetation grows more 

 luxuriantly than on the margins of the little creeks which empty into the Susquehanna Riv- 

 er, Pennsylvania. The soil is exceedingly fertile, for it is composed of the washings of 

 the rich lands on the slopes, and produces a fine growth of timber. Here the sturdy syca- 

 more grows to perfection, often rearing its lofty leaf-crowned head to the height of a hun- 

 dred feet. Black walnuts also attain to a large size, while beneath them grow a host of 

 butternuts, wild plums, hawthorns, and other small trees which so completely shade the 

 surface, that it seems impossible for any thing to obtain light enough to thrive at all, but 

 in spite of the dense overhanging foliage, the ground is thickly covered with rank nettles 

 and other weeds. But wherever an opening occurs admiting the sunshine the herbage be- 

 comes exceedingly high; this is especially noticeable along the margins of the streams where 

 giant grasses often six feet in height overhang the water. Upon the whole it would be 

 difficult to find a place more conducive to bird life, and many species were very abundant 

 there. The branches above were filled with the more arboreal birds while swarms of the 

 terrestrial found a home in the herbage below, and the more open sections were occupied 

 by the Swamp Sparrows. Here they remained throughout the summer, sheltered from the 

 sultry noon time heat by the cool green foliage above, and they linger late in autumn, long 

 after the butternuts have fallen and the ground is strewn with leaves, when the naked 

 stalks and withered rustling grass affords them but slight protection. 



I have ever found that the Swamp Sparrows seek grassy thickets and are common in 

 them along the streams of Florida, even as far south as Miami. I have never heard them 

 make any attempt at a song in the South, but in Massachusetts they trill forth a sprightly 

 lay that consists of a series of rapidly given notes which, although somewhat resembling 

 those uttered by the Chipping Sparrow, are more lisping and not as loud. This perform- 

 ance is given only during the breeding season, but in the autumn they have a very pretty 

 warbling song which, although low, is exceedingly sweet. 



. The Swamp SparrfTws breed about the last week in May, usually placing the nest on 

 a tussock or on the ground, but I once found one that was fastened halfway up the thick- 

 ly growing stalks of some coarse grass, the bent tops of which formed an arch over it and 

 nearly concealed it. The young may be seen accompanying their parents in August, and 

 migrate with them in November, when they all usually move along the low lands, but on 

 their return in spring they often follow other Sparrows across the uplands. 



