174 
TENTH REPORT. 
from December to March. Most of the season the thermometer rarely goes 
below zero. The swamp is protected by the wooded bluffs from all north 
winds, and so is one of the most sheltered places during this stormy period. 
When snow covers the ground, the only available food is the seeds which 
still cling to the dead stalks, but where the snow has melted away or in pro- 
tected spots, as beneath the dead sedges, much food may still be found. Seeds 
and hibernating insects have been taken by the writer in these protected 
spots which shows what foods the birds can procure here. At this season 
all the stations are more or less alike as far as the environments influencing 
bird life are concerned, because the vegetation, which is the chief factor, 
is almost entirely lacking. 
CHARACTERISTIC WINTER BIRDS. 
Spizella monticola (Gmel.). Tree Sparrow. This Sparrow and the Junco 
are the most abundant birds found in the swamp during the winter. 
It arrives the last of October and remains until April. During this time it 
ranges over a considerable area, but is found in largest numbers in the swamp. 
The thickets here furnish it protection aud the abundant weed seed plenty 
of food. Because of the similarity of conditions in the different habitats 
it could not be expected that this sparrow would confine itself to any par- 
ticular spot, but the concealment from enemies furnished by the thickets, 
and the protection from the cold winds afforded by the surrounding bluffs 
makes this habitat the favorite one. The birds roam around in flocks of a 
dozen or more and are often seen in company with juncoes. 
Junco hyemalis (Linn.). Slate-colored Junco. The common name for 
the junco in this part of the country is Snow Bird. It comes and goes about 
the same time as the Tree Sparrow, namely from October to April. These 
birds do not confine themselves to any particular locality, but occur in large 
numbers in the swamp. The food consists of weed seeds and the fruit of the 
sumac. Small flocks of these birds wander about the lowland and up on 
the bluffs during the day, but generally return to the thickets at night. The 
conditions favorable for the distribution of this and the preceeding species 
seem to be an abundance of weed seed, and a thicket in which to roost and 
fly for protection. 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
During the winter small flocks of chickadees usually accompanied by a 
few White-breasted Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers roam about the 
brushy swamp land. A few Blue Jays are also found here. 
BIRDS FOUND AT STATION I. (SWAMP). 
1. Peid-billed Grebe. Seen every spring and fall, a few pair breed. 
2. Loon. One or two pairs seen on the river every spring and fall. 
3. American Merganser. Migrant; individuals seen in spring. 
4. Green-winged Teal. Small flocks stop at the bayou in spring and fall 
to feed. 
5. Blue-winged Teal. Small flocks found with the Green-winged. 
6. American Bittern. Casual from spring to fall. 
7. Least Bittern. Common; breeding in the rushes. 
8. Great Blue Heron. Accidental; a few stop here to feed during the 
spring and summer. 
