AMMODRUMUS MELAyOLEUCVS. ^^^ 



<iENUS XVI. AMMODROML'S. THE SHORE FINCHES. 



<Jex. Cn. Bil/, quite slender, not Ihkk nor swollen a/ base. Ujiper mandihie. somewhat curred. Winf/s, longer than 

 Ihc toil which is considerably rounded, and with the feathers acuiiiiixilc. Sternum, nut slant, with the corarj>ids equal m 

 lenijth to the top of the keel, or a little shorter. Keel, low, either not exceeding in height one third the length of the coracoids 

 or but little higher. Size, small. 



T'.ie sternums of this genus vary considerably, in fact more so than Ls usual in species which areso closely allied. In 

 other anatomical structures, however, there is but little difference and the more important external charactei-s arealsoquiia 

 (•uuilar. The edge of the wing Ls yellow. 



AMMODROMUS MELANOLEUCUS. 



Black and White Shore Pinch. 



Ammodromus melanaleueus JIatnard, Rod and Gun, Jan. 16, 1875. 



DESCRIPTION. 

 Plate V. Adult in spring. 



Sp. Cn. Fonu, slender. Size, small. Tongue, long, thin and homy, provided with a bifid, terminal tuft of hair-like 

 fibeis. Sternum, not stout, with the keel very low, not exceeding in height one third of the length of the coracoids which 

 equal in length the top of the keel. 



Color. Adult. Above, black, with the feathers narrowly edged with a-shy. Wings, and tail very dark-brown with 

 the outer weKs margined with greenish. Beneath, white, broadly streaked everywhere, excejjting on the abdomen, with 

 black. Line extending from upper mandible to point over the eye, and edge of wing, bright-yellow. Bill, black, bluish 

 at base of lower mandible. Feet, brown. 



Young. Similar, but tinged \rith yellowish-rufous on the breast, sides of head, and flanks. The outer edges of tlip 

 wing feathers are also brownish. Sexes, similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is a general uniformity of coloration in specimens of the same age, but the streakings are broader on some than 

 on otiiers, when there is frequently a central clustering of spots on the breast, and sometimes there are white maxillarj- 

 lines. Readily distinguished from all others by the preponderance of black below. The distribution of this species is 

 very limited as thus far observed, and none have been taken, to my knowledge, since 1872 when I found them on the saline 

 s-.>vannahs about Salt Lake and on the marshes east of Indian River, buttouth of the llaulover Canal. They are migratory 

 but I do not know where they spend the winter. The nests and eggs are unknown. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of eight specimeas. Length, 0i)5; stretch, 7-R7; wing, 2-32; tail, 2-0.1; bill, -50; tarsus, -78. 

 Longest specimen, 625; greatest extent of wing, 8-25; longest wing, 250; tail, 2-25; bill, -fM); tarsus, -80. Shortest speci- 

 men, 575; smallest extent of wing, 7'50; shortest wing, 215; tail, 225; hill, -40; taisus, -77. 



IIAIUTS. 



Near the sources of the St. Johns River in Florida is a little body of water, only about 

 two miles in circumference, called Salt Lake and, as its name implies, is quite brackish. 

 This phenomenon is due, not to its present proximity to the sea which is only .six miles dis- 

 tant, for a ridge of high pine lands intervenes, but to the peculiar character of the soil 

 which contains a large quantity of salt. There is but little doubt that this entire section 

 was overflowed by the tides of the ocean not long since. In fact the vegetation which cov- 

 ers these wide-spread plains is almost exactly like that which grows on the marshes of the 

 Indian River. It is composed mainly of course grass and a species of rush, both of which 

 grow to the height of four or five feet, and so thickly together that one can scarcely make 

 his way through them. The margin of the lake is, however, destitute of vegetation as 

 are the beds of numerous small creeks which in the spring and summer are dry, and thus 

 form convenient roa^s. 



