PASSERES — FR1NGILLID.E — AMMODRAMUS. 165 



THE SWAMP FINCH. 



Ammodramus palustius. 



plate lxxi. fig. 101. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Frin» : ,lla paluslris. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol.3, p. 49, pi. 22, fig. ], 



F (Spiza) id. Bonapaktf, Ann. Lye. Vol. 2, p. 110. 



F.jimcorum. NuttalL, Manual Orn. Vol. 1 , p. 502. AUDUBON, folio pi. G4. 



Zoiiolrihia, Swains. & Richardson. Kirtland, p. 1G2. Peabody, Mass. Rep. p. 326. 



Ammodramus id.. Swamp Sparrow. AUDUBON, B. of A. Vol. 3. p. 1 10, pi. 175. 



A. id., Marsh-shore Finch. Gikaud, Birds of Long island, p. 114. 



Characteristics. Front black. Crown bay ; line over the eye, breast and sides of the 

 neck bluish ash. Length, 6 inches. 



Description. Bill robust, slightly incurved and notched near the tip. First primary shorter 

 than the sixth : second, third and fourth primaries subequal ; the third slightly longest. Tail 

 emarginate, rounded ; the feathers pointed as in the preceding, but broader, 1 -7 longer than 

 the tips of the closed wings. 



Color. Crown deep bay, usually streaked with black. Ear-feathers brown, margined 

 above with blackish. Wing-coverts bright bay. Flanks and under tail-coverts pale chesnut; 

 the latter striate with dusky. Chin greyish white. Female, scarcely differs from the male, 

 except in the absence of the black frontlet and black streaks on the crown. 



Length, 5 • 5 - 6 • 0. Alar extent, 7 • 5 - 8 • 0. 



This species, which is often called the Red Grass-bird in this State, occurs in swamps, 

 wet meadows, and along the margins of rivers. Its nest is on the ground, containing a few 

 soiled white eggs, speckled with reddish. It feeds on grass seeds and aquatic insects. It 

 does not appear to follow the ordinary law of migration, although Audubon declares that it is 

 found from Texas to North-Carolina in winter. It breeds abundantly in this State during 

 summer, particularly in the marshes of the western district ; and yet, according to Audubon, 

 it is very abundant about Boston during the winter. Found from Texas to Labrador. 



(EXTRALIMITAL.) 



A. macgillivrayi. (Aud. B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 106, pi. 173.) Dark brown above; lighter beneath. 



Breast and sides with dusky streaks. Sides of the neck tinged with rufous. Length, 5i inches. 



Carolina, Texas. 

 A. bachmani. (Id. lb. p. 114, pi. 176.) Reddish brown above; yellowish beneath: a yellowish 



streak over the eye. Tail graduated. Length, 6 inches. Carolinas. History incomplete. 

 A. hcontii. (Id. lb. Vol 7, pi. 488.) Yellowish red varied with black. Cheeks, a broad band over 



the eyes, and lower parts buff. Tail round ; the feathers acute. Length 4*7. Missouri. 



