FRINGILLTD.E — THE FINCHES. 561 



were in low buslies, about a foot from the ground. They were the only lantl- 

 birds found on these islands. 



Eev. C. M. Jones informs me that at Madison, Conn., on the coast, the 

 Seaside and the Sharp-tailed Finches occur in about equal numbers in the 

 salt marshes. He was not able to observe any specific difference in their 

 mode of nesting, except that the ■maritimuH seemed to be more common in 

 that part of the marsh nearest the shore, while the raudacutus was more 

 abundant farther back towards the higldands, thougli this was not the inva- 

 riable rule. He sometimes found the nests suspended in the salt grass, the 

 latter being interwoven with the other materials. Tn all such cases the en- 

 trance was on the side of the nest, in the manner of the j\Iarsh Wren. At 

 other times lie found the nest placed under a quantity of lodged grass, but 

 resting on a portion still lower. Hi such cases it is generally open at the top. 

 He has also found them on the ground, and, when thus placed, always much 

 more bulky than when built as above, a considerable quantity of dead grass 

 being laid down to keep the nest above the wet, tliough not always with 

 success. On Cobb's Island, Va., Mr. Jones only found the maritimus, the 

 nests of which were in bushes, from one foot to eighteen inches from the 

 ground. 



The call-note of this species is said to be a monotonous chirp, and its song 

 hardly to deserve that name. The notes of which it is composed are few, 

 and liave neither variety, empliasis, nor attractiveness. 



Dr. Coues states that this Fincli begins to sing when mating, and is after- 

 wards, during the incubating, particularly earnest and persevering about it. 

 Each pair usually claims some particular copse, and the male usually has his 

 favorite singing-post, to which it continually resorts. He adds that its 

 simple song is something like that of the Yellow-shouldered Sparrow, begin- 

 ning with a few slow notes, then a rapid trill,_ finally slurred, till it sounds 

 like the noise made by some of the grasshoppers. 



These birds are at all times shy and difficult to be approached. When 

 their nest is visited, tlie parents leave it and secrete themselves, and cannot 

 be traced without great difficulty. When thus hidden, they will almost 

 suffer themselves to be trodden upon before they will fly up. 



Mr. Audubon thinks they liave two broods, their first being hatched out 

 early in June. Their nests, he states, are usually placed next to the ground, 

 but not sunk in it. Their food consists of marine insects, small crabs, and 

 snails, as well as small sand-beetles and seeds. Their flesh has a rank, un- 

 savory flavor, so much so that, having had some made into a pie, he could 

 not eat it. He states also that they are resident in the Southern States, and 

 are found along tlie Gulf coast as far as Texas. 



The nest is strongly but coarsely woven of dry sedges, stems, and grasses, 

 and is lined \\\i\\ similar but finer materials. The eggs are five in number, 

 have a grayish-white ground, and are spotted and blotched with reddish- 

 brown. The blotches are distributed over the entire Qgg, and are much 

 71 



