268 "Bishop, Winier Birds of Pea Island, N. C. [^^',^ 



England, closely resembling December birds from Connecticut. The 

 dark birds have the dark markings below blacker and more conspicuous, 

 the feathers of the crown and interscapulars darker, almost black in some 

 specimens, in marked contrast to the hind neck, and pale interscapular 

 edgings, and the buffy markings e\erywhere approach ochraceous in tint. 



In length of wing and tail the two forms average the same, but the 

 females of the dark race have slightly longer bills. Measurements 

 of 114 specimens of Ammodraitius catidactitus, A. nelsoiii, and A. n. stib- 

 virgatus, lead me to think length of bill one of the best diagnostic char- 

 acters of these birds. 



The dark race was bv far the more common, six males and eight females, 

 and one bird of indeterminable sex, being referable to it, against four 

 males and one female to true caudacuttts. 



39. Ammodramus nelsoni. Nelson's Sparrow. — Common, fre- 

 quenting the same marshes as the Sharp-tail, and even more difficult to 

 flush. While on the wing I could usually distinguish it by its smaller 

 size and brown color. Three males, six females and one of doubtful sex 

 w^ere taken. One of the males is intermediate with subvirgatus, having 

 the plumage of this form, but the measurements of nelsoni. One female, 

 which I am obliged to call nelsoni for lack of any other name, is very 

 highly colored, ochraceous replacing buff throughout the plumage, and 

 buff replacing white. None taken showed moult. 



40. Junco hyemalis. Slate-colored Junco. — A male, the only one 

 seen, was taken on Feb. 8. 



41. Melospiza melodia. Song Spa-rrow. — A moulting male was 

 taken on Feb. 8, but no others observed. This bird was renewing one 

 of the central tail feathers, and was the only bird taken showing moult 

 of remiges or rectrices. 



42. Cistothorus marianae. Marian's Marsh Wren. — I took atypi- 

 cal male of this species in a marsh on Feb. 8, but hunt as I might I 

 could not find another. The grass of the marsh seemed the same as 

 that which this bird and Scott's Rail frequent at the mouth of the Anclote 

 River, Florida. 



The presence of this species, the Boat-tailed Crackle and Wayne's 

 Clapper Rail on Pea Island in winter would point to the probability that 

 this island belongs in the Semitropical Strip of Dr. Merriam's Austro- 

 perian Belt, which is a part, as I understand it, of the Louisianian Fauna 

 of Dr. Allen. 



