iiiucli interest in the 1. O. A. meetings, says that White and Marsh state 

 that the Sioux City formations are so similar to those of Kansas in which 

 so many bird fossils have been discovered, that if investifration were 

 carried on to a sufficient extent, like fossils would undoubtedly be found. 

 •'It seems that the fossil bird has not yet been found in Iowa." adds Mrs. 

 Triem. 



■"No but I'm glad." adds tlie Doctor, ""that some one has enough con- 

 fidence to believe there will be found fossil birds in the state." 



THE SUMMER HAUNTS OF THE SWAMP SPARROW. 



HY J EUGENE LAW. 

 Paper read before the thii'd contiress of the I. O A. 



While perhaps not even common in most pai'ts of Iowa and p(>rhaps 

 unl<nown to a great many of our Hawkeye Ornithologists, and I 

 myself have never met it strictly within our boundaries, yet I feel 

 abundantly satisfied that it not only occur.s as a migrant but even occas- 

 ionally breeds within the state. 



While on an outing in southern Minnesota and northei'u Iowa during 

 May June "9(5 in company with Mr. J. H. Brown. I noticed a male mount- 

 ed on a dead reed uttering its ciiitter which so much resembles that of 

 the Chipping Sparrow, at Hear Lak(>. Freeborn Co.. Minnesota. This 

 lake is only four miles north of the north line of Winnebago 

 county, which leaves strong room to surmise that it might be found in Iowa 

 at this season of the year. This occnred on the 29th of May. whicli would 

 be about the time for young birds. On two or three other occasions I 

 heard their clutter at Rice Lake. Faribault county and Heron Lake. 

 Jackson county. These counties lie north of about the middle of Iowa 

 from east to w;Mt. Hence it would be very reasonable to decide that it 

 passed thr.)ugh Iowa on its migrations. 



So much for Iowa. Now for the summer haunts of our little friend. 

 The early pai't of the last two collecting seasons and the whole of the 

 last. I have spent at Madison. Wisc^jusin. and though school duties lia\e 

 occupied most of my time. I haxc been able to get out a little, but of 

 course any tliorougli study iuis been nut of the (|U(>stiou. 



Tli(» Swamp Sparrow tirst puts in an appearanc<' in thi" <'arly part of 

 .\l)ril. First noted April 15, "96 and April 11. "97. but as 1 was not out to 

 their haunts every day there is a chance for earlier dates. Soon after 

 they arriv(> the marshes about the lakes arc^ full of them. Tliey keei) up 

 a constant singing, dozens within earshot at tiie same time. Tiieir song 

 almost exactly resembles a Chipping Sparrow's, liut is perhaps a little 

 louder and sweeter, lacking the sad monotony characteristic of the Cliip- 

 jjing Sparrow. I have lu'ver fiuind llieiu at any time in any other jjlace 

 than the high gi'ass and rushes alioiit water. 



• -My ac((uaintance with their breeding habits has heeji ciuiliued exclus- 

 ively t() one large ai'in of Lake Mendota. .Madismi. Wis., which linalh 



