LEAVES FROM AN APRIL JOURNAL. 45 



were foraging by the streams that feed the Santee 

 and Roanoke Rivers. To the casual observer 

 these emigrants now seen appear to be of the same 

 species ; yet if he notes closely through the glass 

 their marking, and watches carefully the difference 

 in the manner of feeding, he will be interested in 

 knowing that there are two kinds; the swamp- 

 sparrow (Melospizapalustris), and the s ong-sparrow 

 (Melospiza melodia). The crown of the s wamp - 

 sgaCTOw is chestnut, while that of the song-spar- 

 row is brownish-red, with a medial stripe of dull 

 gray. The former has a jet-black forehead, which 

 is lacking in the latter. The breast of the song- 

 sparrow is whitish, with clearly-defined dark-brown 

 streaks, and a spot nearly in the centre. • This 

 ornament his first cousin does not have, but a 

 plain ashy front, with only a few dull streaks near 

 the wings, and just a hint of yellow on the sides. 

 For a month after their arrival here, before the 

 seeds have well grown, both species love to forage 

 by this stream, as they are doing to-day. The 

 song-sparrow hops along the shore, looking into 

 all the hollows and openings in the banks, which 

 he has inspected a hundred times before, but 

 where each time he finds an overlooked seed or 

 grub. While engaged in his meals, he does not 



