THE GOIMCTORS' JKOHTHliY. 



Devoted to Ormitholoy, Oology and Hatut»al History. 



To ii a w a u da Swamp. 



(Written forthe Collectors Monthly.) 



0n« of my most interesting collecting; 

 grounds, while prosecuting m.v ornitho- 

 logical studies in Western New York, was 

 Ponawanda Swamp; a large tract of 

 jpuntry along the line between Orleans 

 And Genesee country. Here was every 

 variety of swamp properly so called, — 

 •eguhir peat-bog, trembling beneath 

 ones feet and containing deep and peril- 

 mis pits of soft mire here and there in 

 jvery direction, with meadows abound- 

 ng in sedges and course grasses. Dry in 

 mid-summer, but Hooded the greater 

 part of 1 lie y^f. tall deciduous forests, 

 banding in water a great part of the 

 k-ear; tangled shrubby tracts, almost 

 mpenetrable because of briars wildferns 

 ind soft mud; and dense, shadowy tracts 

 -»f white cedars. Here and there meand- 

 ered slow sluggish streams with now and 

 [hen a deep pond. 



As may be imagined, this was a very 

 >aradise for the botanist and orintho- 

 ogist. 1 have only space to say a little 

 ibout the a vifauna. During the migra 

 ■ion particularly in early spring, here 

 vere immense numbers of the dusky Ducks 

 [anas obscura), these secluded streams, 

 loughs and puddle holes, being the best 

 onceivable resorts for them. They 

 night be found in pairs anywhere through 

 )ut this region; and in some oftheflood- 

 >d fields, they would congregate in flocks 

 if many hundreds, so that the sound of 

 heir wings on rising would be like that 



of distant thunder. Here, too, they were 

 fairly common during the breeding sea- 

 son ; and the young were often seen on 

 the glassy streams and ponds during 

 summer. 



During the migration the Pintails were 

 fairly common. A pretty figure they 

 used to make, flying in small flocks above 

 the tree-tops. At the same time, one 

 would often see both the Blue- 

 winged and the Green-winged Teals. 

 Not infrequently they would feed in com- 

 pany. Then it was interesting to note, 

 how much nearer the shore the latter 

 would dive after their food, just as has 

 been so faithfully uoted by Audubon. 

 As might be inferred, the elegant Wood 

 Duck might be found here, more or less 

 commonly, in the migrations and during 

 the breeding season. 



Waders were also found here; the Wood- 

 cock from early Spring till late Autumn, 

 breeding of course. The Greater and 

 Lesser Yellow legs, were herein abundance 

 and for several weeks, spring and fall. 

 The Spotted Sandpiper was a part of 

 the landscape from early in April till 

 October. During April, Wilson Snipe 

 was very common ; and it appeared in 

 the low meadows in October. 



Blackbirds,— ohe Redwing Crowblack- 

 bird and Cowblackbird, but, in ost abund- 

 ant of all during certain days in April. 

 The Rusty Blackbird. Their numbers 

 and their noise could not fail to attract 

 attention. 



Here the Swamp Sparrow was buildind 

 its coarse strong nest with dark tinteg 

 heavily m arked eggs. Not only the Long- 



