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Savanna Sparrow (con.)

Nelson Sparrow

Short-billed Marsh Wren
Rusty Blackbird

509 Querquedula discors

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Farther on were a great number of them. They gave two notes a faint [[underlined]] tsut [[/underlined]] and, [[underlined]] chree chree [[/underlined]] while chasing each other. They sometimes flew up and lit on weedstalks to look at me.

Saw only a few Nelson Sparrows. Their note was sharp like a Swamp Sparrows but very faint. I saw one running a little opening ahead of me on the bent over grass. It was going to one side to get out of my road.

The short billed Marsh Wrens were found on the dryer edges in the tall grass. They would bob up a few feet away give a scolding tschip tschip tsep tschip and then either disappear in the grass again or fly a few feet. I would know when they were coming up by seeing the tips of the grass move.

In the corn-field were Rusty Blackbirds. and they kept coming and going from the marsh for the purpose of feeding. Where the ears of corn projected beyond the husks they would eat the kernels by pecking at them vigorously and also stripped away the coverings. I noticed dozens of ears served this way. They were not very wild but liked to keep just out of sight in the rows. they sat on the ears and hammered out of the kernels with vigorous pecks.

October 1, Saturday

509. Querquedula discors. A. Wetmore Slough near flowing well, North Freedom, Wis, iris brown. bill greenish black, brownish beneath. tarsus dull buff. webs drab green. Length 15 1/2