FEINGILLIDJ5— THE FINCHES. 543 



yellow on the head and wing. The nmcli shorter tail and entire absence of 

 rul'oiis distinguish it from the spotted Jile/osjyizas. In shape the bill is like 

 that of Ammodromus caudacutus, but it is larger; the head lacks the yel- 

 low, etc. 



In some specimens the streaks on the l)ack are almost obsolete. 



H.M3ITS. So far as is known, this bird seems to ha\'e a somewhat restricted 

 habitat, being apparently confined to the sea-coast of .Southern California. 

 There it was fir.st met with by Dr. Heermann, in the neighborliood of San 

 Diego, and was described by ^Ir. Cassin as an Amiaodronuis, with which 

 genus of birds it seemed to have many peculiarities in common. I)r. Heer- 

 mann first met with this bird in 18.jl, on the shores of the bay of San Diego, 

 in company with other species, apparent!}' in search of grass-seed. After- 

 wards, in the Pacific liailroad Sur\'ey, with Lieutenant "VVilliau:son, he again 

 met with these birds in considerable numbers at Santa Barbara and San Pe- 

 dro. In all the places in which he met with it he found it frequenting low 

 sandy beaches, and the heavy sedge-grass which aljounds on the shores. On 

 the former it seemed to be feeding on marine insects and seeds thrown \\\) 

 by the tide, and in the latter to find places for easy and immediate conceal- 

 ment when alarmed or pursued. Naturally it appeared to be a quiet and 

 unsuspicious bird. He heard it utter no other note than a short sharj) c'liirp. 



Dr. Cooper thinks this species has a much greater affinity to the Ammo- 

 drumi than to the PasscrcuU, both in its bill and claws, as well as in its 

 habits. He Ibund them very abundant, both at San I\^dro and San Diego, 

 at all seasons, and he does not think that they migrate at all from those 

 localities. He found them frequenting the .shores of the bays and the sea- 

 beaches. They also came confidently and familiarly about the buildings near 

 the water, feeding on any seeds or insects they could find. On the beach 

 they run along the sand, in the rows of drifted sea-weeds, seeking their 

 food, and rarely take to fiiglit unless surprised, and then only fly a short 

 distance. Dr. Cooper has never known them to alight on any bu.sh, nor does 

 he think that they have any song. The only note he has ever heard them 

 ntter is a .short chirp. At San Pedro he saw them, in July, feeding their 

 young, but he has never found a nest that he was certain belonged to this 

 species. 



Dr. Coues found this bird abundant in Southern California, where it kept 

 among the thick weeds of the dry plain, and was much on the ground, where 

 it ran as easily as a Pipilo, often flying up into the bushes and resting there 

 quietly. They were to be seen also in great numbers sunning themselves 

 and catching flies on the piles of lumber on the wharf, so tame as to be almost 

 liable to ha struck by a cane. 



It is a winter resident at Cape St. Lucas, where ]\Ir. Xantus found tliem 

 abundant. They were not seen there in summer, thouuh it is pi-olialile they 

 reside on the shores in its neighborhimil. Tlieir nest and eggs remain 

 unknown. 



