808 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part 2 



Field marks. — The sharp-tailed sparrow is a handsome and well- 

 marked bird, always identifiable if sufficient care is taken to study it 

 adequately. The ochre-buff facial marking surrounding the gray 

 cheek patch is the essential mark. The crown and nape appear 

 grayish, the breast streakings are variable, and the back brown some- 

 times with considerable grayish. The sharply pointed tail feathers 

 are sometimes a useful mark as the bird flies away. It can be confused 

 only with the seaside sparrow, which appears appreciably larger, 

 darker, and grayer. 



My comments on subspecific identification are based on both 

 field experience and a study of many museum specimens. A. c. 

 caudacuta seems to be the "mean of the species," the facial markings 

 being well defined, the breast streaking sharp, and the back brown 

 with contrasting pale edgings to the scapulars. A. c. diversa has a 

 darker back with less pale edging on the scapulars, and stronger 

 breast streaking with some buffy wash. A. c. subvirgata is the 

 palest and grayest race, the yellow of the face and the gray of the cheek 

 being quite light and the back quite gray; the breast streaking is 

 present but blurred. A. c. altera has richer orange and gray facial 

 markings than subvirgata but a grayer back than nelsoni. A. c. 

 nelsoni is slightly smaller and has a strong buffy wash across the 

 breast which is practically devoid of streaking, the facial markings 

 being very rich ochre. 



In summary, without the specimen in the hand and without 

 adequate skins for comparison, it is my opinion that diversa vs. 

 caudacuta are inseparable as are subvirgata vs. altera, altera vs. nelsoni, 

 and perhaps nelsoni vs. caudacuta. Birds from certain marshes on 

 the Maine coast intermediate between caudacuta and subvirgata are 

 often surprisingly like altera. 



Enemies. — The predation files of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 report sharp-tailed sparrows present in only 3 of 617 marsh hawk 

 stomachs, all from Fisher's Island, N.Y., and in only 1 of 1,275 marsh 

 hawk pellets from wintering birds in Florida. Also nelsoni was found 

 in one of 281 short-eared owl stomachs from Illinois. In addition, it 

 must be assumed that such ground-dwelling birds are occasionally 

 taken by minks, foxes, rats, and snakes, although specific records are 

 lacking. 



H. S. Peters (1937) listed only one external parasite, a louse, 

 Philopterus subflavescens, on this bird. I examined 12 specimens, 

 collected at Barnstable, Mass., for parasites: 8 were completely 

 free; 4 showed from 1 to 10 individuals of the above louse, and 1 had 

 a tick, not yet identified. No Mallophaga, hippoboscids, or endo- 

 parasites were found. Examination of blood smears proved negative. 



