O. Braidlei, Breeding habits of Ml. palustris Middlesex Co., Mass. June 1 Clear but very cool with E wind. Started for the swamps at 8 taking lunch with me and with other preparations for spending the whole day. As I entered the bickyard swamp almost the first bird I heard was O. Braidlei. His harsh queeishy sound to que squeak or the high note pipe came up from the willow thicket almost menacing and if good spirits could be taken as an indication he certainly seemed as much at home there as among the thickets of Bear river at Kewsy Me. Going in pursuit I shot him easily enough and had likely got him down up in his paper cove when I heard another this one proved very shy and I chased him a full half hour before getting a shot. In the afternoon I heard a third in the Pine swamp but failed to secure or even get a sight at him. Crossing the Wat. &. V. R. tracks I struck into the swamp again and found a nest of Ml. palustris with 5 eggs. It was built in the usual way in a cavity--so to speak--hollowed out in a bunch of old dry grass which canopiled, and surrounded it on every side. The swamp Sparrow creeps quietly out when you get within a few yards of her a flight nothing betraying his movements then as she gets a few yards away she gives a chirp of uneasiness and goes to washing herself drinking, or even feeding birds keeping however a sharp eye on the intruder. The first time I saw this done I thought these actions real and simply the result of the bird's indifference