82 Grundtvig—On the Birds of Shiocton , Wisconsin. 
it into early summer. In old times there were woods there of 
which scattered, tall, dead trunks are a reminder, outlooks for 
the hosts of birds of prey which in autumn abound there. Stumps 
are not much seen elsewhere. The whole tract is covered with 
luxuriant grass. On the higher spots the grass is cut. Here 
visit Totanus melanoleucus and T. flavipes in migration time. 
When the water subsides Shioc Meadow is used as a breeding 
ground for a large number of birds. Here there are many colo¬ 
nies of the little Cistothorus palustris. Here Agelaius phoeni- 
ceus has its favorite resort. Here both Anas discors and Anas 
boschas breed, and in the wettest situations colonies of Porzana 
Carolina and Rallus virginianus. Of other birds may be men¬ 
tioned Circus hudsonius and Botaurus lentiginosus. South and 
east of Shioc Meadow there is a stretch of luxuriant woods, 
which with regard to bird life corresponds nearly with a wood 
which I shall later speak of under the name of the Pine Wood. 
The edge is bordered by the mile-wide East Swamp. There is 
a similar swamp also west of Wolf River, but I have not much 
acquaintance with it. Indeed it is not easy to make acquaint¬ 
ance with these swamps. Windfalls, young growth, thickets, vines 
and quagmires make it almost impassable. In the edges of the 
swamp Cistothorus stellaris bustles about, pleased with the wild¬ 
ness/ It is here also that Gallinago delicata has its play-ground. 
Here breeds a large number of the everywhere common Melospiza 
fasciata. Here also are both Troglodytes aedon and Ammo- 
dramus sandwichensis savanna. Geothlypis trichas and Melo¬ 
spiza georgiana oftener breed farther out. Formerly there were 
woods in many places, but fires have raged so often that the 
most are only stunted remaius. On all sides are seen the tall 
but never stout dead trunks to remind one of what there has 
been. Thickets are plenty. Often one gets into an almost in- 
penetrable scrub, and here and there some scattered green trees, 
principally tamarack and larch, rise over the shrub growth. 
There are also bogs and great flats with quagmires, in part old 
lakes and river-beds. Here is often seen Gallinago delicata and 
Porzana Carolina. The commonest flycatcher in the swamp is 
Empidonax minimus , the commonest vireo, Vireo olivaceus. Many 
Spinus tristis certainly breed here. In the tall dead trunks there 
