Canton, Mass.
1893
July 10
(No 2)
  The scene of our labors was a meadow some 500 yards
in length by from 100 to 200 yards in width through which
Ponkapog [Ponkapoag] Brook winds it sluggish course. This meadow is
somewhat higher than the Neponsett [Neponset] (Fowl) Meadows into
& through which the brook afterwards flows. It is surrounded
on every side by maple & birch woods and is dotted here
& there by clumps of alders & other bushes. It is everywhere
intersected by narrow ditches which, however, fail to drain 
it effectually for  most of the ground is wet & in many
places covered with two or three inches of water. The growth
of grasses in unusually varied, large tracks or belts of "blue joint"
(Phaleris)[Phalaris] alternating with stretches of the shorter, finer
tussock grass (Carex stricta) while considerable areas were covered with
the short, coarse, broad-leaved "cut grass".
[margin]Cistothorus 
stellaris
Its nests,
eggs &
breeding 
habits[/margin]
  The Marsh Wrens (all C.[Cistothorus] stellaris) were pretty evenly distributed
over the entire meadow. About a dozen males were heard
singing in all. They did not appear to prefer or avoid any
particular kind of grass but the nests at this season are
oftenest built in the fine tussock grass according to Mr. Bolles'
experience. The early June nests on the other hand are almost invariably
in the Phaleris [Phalaris] which, of course, is the only grass tall
enough at that season to afford the necessary shelter.
I saw in all to-day ten nests of this species, two last year's
nests still firmly held among the old grass, six "cock, "false", or
"decoy" nests, and two nests with seven incubated & three fresh
eggs respectively. Of these ten nests two were in Phaleris, [Phalaris]
seven in tussock grass, and the tenth (the nest with 7 eggs)
in a tract of cat grass but supported by both cut and
tussock grass intermixed & intertwined. All ten nests
were composed of dry grasses of last year's growth but
all but one of the new nests were so completely covered