poesia nelle m 
Birds of Massachusetts. 159 
wholly of that color. It usually raises two broods in 
a season. 
The Swame Sparrow, Fringilla palustris, is 
rather common, after the middle of April, in the 
swamps and marshes, from which it takes its name. 
Wilson speaks of it as destitute of song. This is a 
mistake ; its strain, though not equal to that of some 
others of the tribe, is lively and pleasant. It is 
distinguished by its passion for the vicinity of water, 
where it continually forces through brush and thick- 
ets, till its tail is worn almost away. 
The nest of the swamp sparrow is made on the 
ground in swamps, with the coarse grass which 
grows there. 'The eggs are four or five, of a dull 
white, spotted with reddish brown. The old birds 
express great anxiety for their young, but apparently 
without much reason, for they have a wonderful 
alacrity at hiding in the grassy places where they 
dwell. 
The Sgmanr-ramuegp Finca, Fringilla caudacuta, 
is added, at the suggestion of Dr. Brewer, on the au- 
thority of Nuttall. 
The Seasive Finca, Fringilla maritima, is found 
along the borders of the ocean, and in the sea isl- 
ands; it visits the interior only when driven by 
easterly storms. It runs in search of marine insects 
and small shell-fish, like a sandpiper, on the edge of 
the strand. Like the swamp sparrow, it has feet 
and legs of great strength, and suited to its way of 
life. These finches build on those parts of the 
