AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



17 



Photo by C. H. Morrell. 



NEST OF SWAMP SPARROW. 



Amid surroundings such as these, you will find the Swamp Sparrows. 

 These dark colored, handsome members of the Finch family are much 

 more intimately acquainted with neighbors such as these, than with 

 mankind, for whom they have a wholesome fear and respect. 



Although there might be a large number of them in some low thick- 

 et, unless you were purposely looking for them, in all probability you 

 would pass by without being aware of their presence. Happy and ac- 

 tive, when no one is around, the instant an enemy appears, all song 

 ceases and with the exception of a few warning chirps, all are silent un- 

 til you have passed. 



I have cautiously approached a flock, early in the morning when they 

 are singing at their best, and seated myself in their very midst. Every 

 once in a while, above the rustling of the leaves, caused by them in 

 their search for food, I could hear a beautiful little song consisting of 

 several trills given in a low sweet tone so as to appear to be at quite 

 a distance from me. Another song frequently heard was a very rapid- 

 ly repeated chirp, forming nearly a continuous note and not unlike that 

 of the Chipping Sparrow. I had been there but a few minutes before 

 one of them hopped to a twig within arm's reach from me. He had no 

 idea there was anybody near and looked at me for an instant as if he 

 could hardly believe his eyes, then with one loud, deep chirp, dropped 

 out of sight. At once all the birds about me, who had been quite noisy, 

 became silent. Evidently my discoverer told them all what was the 



