SEASIDE SPARROW. 347 



and its flesh is even imbued with the rank or fishy taste to be 

 expected from the nature of its food. At other times it re- 

 mains amidst the thiclcest of the sea-grass, and chmbs upon 

 the herbage with as much dexterity as it runs on the ground. 

 Its feet and legs for this purpose are robust, as in the Swamp 

 Sparrow. It appears to rear two broods in the season. In 

 May and June the Seaside Finch may be seen almost at all 

 hours perched on the top of some rank weed near the salt- 

 marsh, singing with much emphasis the few notes which com- 

 pose its monotonous song. When approached it seeks refuge 

 in the rank grass by descending down the stalks, or flies off to 

 a distance, flirting its wings, and then, alighting suddenly, runs 

 off with great nimbleness. 



The Seaside Finch is now considered a rare bird in Massa- 

 chusetts, though common, if not abundant, in Connecticut. It is 

 not quite so exclusively maritime as Nuttall supposed, as it is found 

 on the margins of rivers so far inland that the water is scarcely 

 brackish. 



Note. — Scott's Seaside Sparrow (A. maritumis penin- 

 siclce) was first described from specimens taken by Mr. W. E. D. 

 Scott at Tarpon Springs, Florida, in 1888. It is intermediate in 

 coloration between A. iii^rescens andy4. tnarititnus. 



This race has been found only along the southwestern coast of 

 Florida and on Grand Isle, off Louisiana. 



The Dusky Seaside Sparrow {Ami;todra»nis nigrescens) — 

 which differs from maritiimis in being black above, streaked with 

 olive and gray, beneath white, streaked with black — occurs in 

 southern Florida, 



