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THE SWAMP SPARROW. 



Fringilla falustris, Wils. 



PLATE LXIV. Male. 



The shores and such flat sand-bars as are overgrown with grasses and 

 rank weeds, along the Mississippi, from its mouth to a great height, as 

 well as the swamps that occur in the woods, within a short distance from 

 the margins of that river, are the resorts of the Swamp Sparrow, during 

 autumn and winter. Although these birds do not congregate in flocks, 

 their numbers are immense. They form the principal food of the many 

 Sparrow Hawks, Pigeon Hawks, and Hen-harriers, which follow them as 

 well as several other species, on their return from the Middle Districts, 

 where they go towards spring, for the purpose of breeding. In those 

 districts they continue to prefer low swampy places, damp meadows, and 

 the margins of creeks and rivers. 



It is a timid species, destitute of song, and merely uttering a single 

 cheep, which is now and then heard during the day, but more frequently 

 towards evening. They skulk along the weeds with activity, and feed 

 principally upon the seeds of grasses, with a few insects, sometimes wa- 

 ding in shallow water. When wounded and forced to fall in the stream, 

 they swim off to the nearest tuft of grass and hide in it. Their flight is 

 short, low, and assisted by strong jerking motions of the body and tail, 

 accompanied by a rustling of the wings. They alight by dropping sud- 

 denly amongst the weeds, seldom making towards a high tree. They are 

 rarely if ever met with in dry woodlands. 



Their nest is placed on the ground, at the foot of a large bunch of 

 tall grass. It is composed of dry weeds and finer fibres of the same, and 

 is sometimes partially covered over. The eggs are four or five, of a dull 

 white, speckled with reddish. They raise two, sometimes three, broods in 

 a season. 



I found these birds abundantly dispersed in the swamps of Cayao-a 

 Lakes, and those bordering the Illinois river, during summer, and far up 

 the Arkansas River in the winter months. Their flesh is sedgy, which 

 perhaps forms no objection to some people against its use. They be- 

 come fat and tender, when the weeds have produced an abundance of 

 seeds. Their note differs from that of all other species of Sparrow, being 

 harsher in its tone. The young follow the parents on the ground, skulks 

 ing among the grass for nearly a Aveek before they are able to fly. 



