THE LOOtf. 57 



and along the ground, as if thereby trying to draw the intruder 

 after her. The site of this nest was about eighteen inches off 

 the ground, the color of the eggs is clear white, dotted, espe- 

 cially towards the large end, with spots of a brownish-like hue. 



Wm. L. Kells. 

 Listowell, Ontario. 



Written for the Loon. 

 Nesting of the Swamp-Sparrow. 



BY W. L. KELLS. 



This species (the " Melospiza Georgiana") is the rarest of the 

 sparrow genus that makes its Summer home in this vicinity, 

 and only in low, swampy places where there is low brush- 

 wood, or tall grasses, or an intermingling of both, is it to be 

 found at all ; and there only is it likely to be distinguished by 

 the few, who, making Ornithology a special study, have a keen 

 appreciation of the senses of sight and sound. This is ac- 

 counted for from the facts of the peculiar places that it fre- 

 quents, which are generally covered with water in the spring 

 season, before the leaves come out, and that the bird seeks con- 

 cealment as soon as it is disturbed by the approach of human 

 kind, that even at a short distance it has a close resemblance to 

 the Song-Sparrow, ("Melospiza Fasciata,") and that its song, gen- 

 erally emitted from the top of some low bush or stalk of grass, 

 is so like those of the slate-colored Junco (" Junco Hyemalis") 

 and Chipping-Sparrow ("Spizella Socialist that it requires 

 more than ordinary observations of the rural farmer or 

 sportsman to distinguish it. Some ten years ago I first dis- 



