V °!'8^ VI ] Chapman, The Seaside Sparrows, 7 



islands of Banana River, on the marshes north of this lagoon, 

 west to the Indian River, north along this body of water to the 

 Haulover Canal. It never occurs out of the marsh grass or low 

 water bush. Thus the bird is confined to a belt of country not 

 over a quarter of a mile wide and about ten miles long, if fol- 

 lowed through its extent." 



When one considers the abundance of this Sparrow and that 

 the region it inhabits is in no sense insolated, but that both to the 

 north and south of the area outlined above there are marshes appar- 

 ently similar to those it occupies, its restriction to a habitat only 

 a few square miles in extent makes its distribution unique among 

 American birds. In color it is the most strongly characterized 

 form of the group, the black which prevails on the upper parts and 

 so heavily streaks almost the entire under parts, not being equalled 

 in intensity or extent in any of its congeners. Seventeen speci- 

 mens taken in March, 1898, at the mouth of Dummitt's Creek, 

 are in comparatively unworn plumage and present little variation 

 in color. Their average measurements are : wing, 2.50 ; tail, 

 2.04; bill from nostril, .43 inches. 



The nearest point at which another representative of this group 

 has been secured is Matanzas Inlet, Florida. 



Ammodramus sennetti {Allen). 



Ammodramus marilimus sennetti Allen, Auk, V, 1S8S, 2S6 (oii^. 

 descr.) ; Chapman, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Ill, 1S91, 323 (habits); 

 Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1S92, 109. 



As the second most distinct form in the group and the only 

 one, except A. uigrescens, which apparently does not inter°rade 

 with its allies, we may next treat of the Seaside Finch resident 

 at Corpus Christi, Texas. 



In April, 189 1, I found the bird abundant and breeding in 

 the marshes of Nueces Bay. A series of thirteen specimens 

 shows that it more nearly resembles true marilimus than it dees 

 any other member of the group. It is, however, quite distinct 

 from that form, being distinguished chiefly by its greener color 

 and the black centers to the feathers of the upper parts. To the 

 form geographically nearest to it, the dark Seaside Sparrow 



