62 Birds of Canada. 



M. palustris. The Swamp Sparrow. 



This sparrow arrives from the south about the 

 middle of April. It prefers low, swampy locali- 

 ties, and is seldom seen in the open fields. This 

 sparrow is six inches long ; the crown, chestnut ; 

 forehead, black ; ash-colored streak on the side 

 of the head and back ; under parts, whitish, 

 tinged with ashy. TJie nest is built at the foot 

 of a tuft of long grass ; eggs, four in number, 

 grayish-white, spotted with brown. Its food is 

 grass-seeds, berries, and insects. The Swamp 

 Sparrow has no song. Departs for the south 

 about the tenth of October. 



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Sub-Family PASSERELLIN^E. The Buntings. 



Passerella iliaca. The Fox-colored Sparrow. 



This sparrow is seven and a-half inches long. 

 Head, neck, rump, and middle of the back, dull 

 ash color ; each feather blotched with brownish- 

 red ; the tail, bright rufous ; the under parts of 

 the breast, sides, and throat, spotted with rufous. 

 Nests, under a low bush ; eggs, four or five, of a 

 greenish color, with blotches of brown. 



