£be Warbler 19 



The Alameda Song Sparrow 



Though the marshes be so lowly, Tell me, tell me, gentle singer, 



Where you love to flit and sing. Always dress'd in suit so plain, 



Still, I sometimes think them holy, Is your cheery mission earthward 



Such sweet melodies you bring ! Just tc minister to pain? 



A CHEERY little bird, and one always delightfnlly associated in my 

 mind with many pleasant rambles over the marshes, or cruising abont 

 through winding sloughs, where the California Clapper Rail {Ralltts obsolet- 

 us) is found at home, is our happy little friend, the Alameda Sparrow (A/el- 

 ospisa cineria pit sill it la), who, in spite of his long Latin name, seems to have 

 not a care in the world. In the rank fens and waste of marsh the dreariness 

 is relieved by the bright little song, a cheerful thanksgiving note ever, of 

 the Song Sparrow. 



The beautiful photograph here reproduced, which was taken by Mr. 

 Edgar Cohen, a well known amateur photographer of Alameda, Cal., and 

 used with his kind permission, shows a portion of our " Island City " at high 

 tide, where in years past I have looked into many nests of the Alameda 

 Sparrow, built cozily from five inches to a foot above ground in a low bushy 

 weed found growing on the marshes contiguous to Alameda on San Fran- 

 cisco Bay. That the low tree-like weeds are used by the Sparrows for nest- 

 sites in the locality pictured is seen to be with good reason, for on a flood 

 tide nests built upon the ground, as many of the Alameda Sparrows' are, 

 would prove to be houses with damp and unhealthy cellars. Provident Al- 

 ameda Sparrows, who know the marshes better than we do (for it is their 

 world) and are familiar with the phenomena of the tides which effect their 

 life, learn to be wise builders. 



The nests of the Alameda Sparrow, at least such as I have observed 

 near Alameda, are nearly all decidedly " marshy " in the material used, 

 which, for the outer walls and foundation, is composed of stems of marsh 

 grass, which are always encrusted with dry mud or salt, giving them a some- 

 what whitened appearance, so their house in the marsh is already white- 

 washed when constructed. The lining is of softer dry grasses. 



From three to four eggs are laid, I believe not differing appreciably in 

 markings from the numerous other varieties of this species. At least two 

 broods are reared in a season. Eggs may be found nearly hatched early in 

 April, and perhaps in the same vicinity other nests in course of construction. 

 I have often seen fresh eggs in one nest and large young in another close at 

 hand. Although the birds are common on the marshes, unless it be in loca- 

 tions where the marsh weeds referred to are used by the birds, nests of the 

 Alameda Sparrow are not easily found. 



H. R. Taylor, Cal. 



