FKIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — AJIMODROMUS. I91 



ries. The tail is short and graduated laterally ; each feather stifl'ened, lanceolate, and 

 acute. 



Color. Streaked above and across the breast ; very faintly on the sides. 



The typical species (2) are coniiued to the Eastern coast. A. rostratus 

 differs in having a very stout bill and notched tail ; A. Samuelis resembles 

 Melospiza in color, with the bill and wings of Ammodromns 



Ammodromus Samuelis, Baird. 



Ammodromiis Saniuelis, Baird, Pr. Boston Soc. X. H. for June, 185S. Ib. P. R. Rep. IX. 

 BirJs, 4.').5. In. Birds of N. Amer. ; pi. 71, f 1. 



Sp. Char. Somewhat like Melospiza Heermanni, but considerably smaller. Bill 

 slender, attenuated, and acute. Tarsus not longer than middle toe and claw. Above 

 streaked on the head, back, and rump with dark brown, the borders of the feathers paler, 

 but without any rufous. Beneath, bluish-white ; the middle of the breast, with sides of 

 thi'oat and body, spotted and streaked with blackish-brown. Wings above nearly uniform 



dark brownish rufous. Under tail coverts yellowish-brown, conspicuously blotched with 

 blackish. An ashy supen-iliary stripe, becoming nearly white to the bill, and a whitish 

 ma.xillary one ; the crown with faint gi-ayish median line. Length, 5.00 ; wing, 2.20 ; 

 tail, 2 35. 



Hah. California, lat. 38^', near the coast. 



Notliing is known of the habits of this species. 



Gexls CHONDESTES, Swaixson. 



Chomlestis, Sw.viNSOX, Phil. Ma-. I. 1827, ^^'^. In. Fauna Bor. Amcr. 11. 18.31. (Type, 

 Chondnstrs affir/fitifs, Swaixsox, crpuil to Frini/ilJa f/raiitiiiaca, S.VY.) 



Gv.s. CiiAit. Bill swollen ; both outlines gently curveil ; the lower mandible as high as 

 the upper ; the commissure angulatcd at the base, and then slightly sinuated. Lower 



