SWAMP SPARROW. 
343 
to that of the Chipping Sparrow, but far louder and more musi- 
cal. In the intervals the Swamp Sparrow descends into the 
grassy tussocks and low bushes in quest of his insect food, as 
well as to repose out of sight ; and while here his movements 
are as silent and secret as those of a mouse. The rice planta- 
tions and river swamps are the favorite hibernal resorts of 
these birds in Louisiana, Georgia, and the Carolinas ; here they 
are very numerous, and skulk among the canes, reeds, and rank 
grass, solicitous of concealment, and always exhibiting their 
predilection for watery places. In the breeding season, before 
the ripening of many seeds, they live much on the insects of 
the marshes in which they are found, particularly the smaller 
coleopterous kinds, Carabi and Curculiones. They extend 
their northern migrations as far as the coasts of Labrador and 
Newfoundland. 
They probably raise two or three broods in a season, being 
equally prolific with our other Sparrows. I’hey express extreme 
solicitude for their young even after they arc fully fledged and 
able to provide for themselves ; the young also, in their turn, 
possess uncommon cunning and agility, running and concealing 
themselves in the sedge of the wet meadows. They are quite 
as difficult to catch as field-mice, and seldom on these emer- 
gencies attempt to take wing. We have observed one of these 
sagacious birds dart from one tussock to another, and at last 
dive into the grassy tuft in such a manner, or elude the grasp 
so well, as seemingly to disappear or burrow into the earth. 
Their robust legs and feet, as well as long claws, seem pur- 
posely provided to accelerate this clinging and running on the 
uneven ground. 
This species is common throughout the settled portions of east- 
ern Canada, and abundant on the St. Clair Flats and in Manitoba. 
