SWAMP SPARROW. HI 



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 suddenly 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 Cayuga Lake, 

 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 become 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, skulking among the grass for 

 nearly a week before they are able to fly. 



This bird is abundant, in company with the Tree Sparrow, during winter, 

 about Boston. It is not mentioned by Dr. Richardson as being an inha- 

 bitant of the Fur Countries, although I found it plentiful in Labrador and 

 Newfoundland, as well as in all the districts suited to its habits between 

 these countries and the Texas. Mr. Townsend informs me that it is found 

 on the Missouri, but was not observed beyond the head-waters of that river. 



From Texas to North Carolina in winter. Spreads in spring and summer 

 to the Missouri westward, and to Labrador eastward. Abundant. 



Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla palastris, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. in. p. 49. 



Fringilla palustris, Bonap. Syn., p. 110. 



Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla Georgiana, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 502. 



Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla palustris, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 331; vol. v. p. 508. 



Male. 



Bill shorter than in the other species; tail-feathers less acuminate; upper 

 part of head deep chestnut-red, streaked with black; hind part and sides of 

 the neck light bluish-grey, cheeks dusky brown; a greyish-yellow streak 

 over the eye; upper parts of body yellowish-brown, streaked with brownish- 

 black; wing-coverts and secondaries broadly edged with yellowish-red, 

 primaries with duller red; tail similar; throat greyish-white, with two small 

 dusky streaks, the rest of the fore neck and part of the breast pale bluish- 

 grey, the abdomen whitish, the sides yellowish-brown, streaked with dusky. 



