OF NEW ENGLAND. 



191 



Dr. Coues considered this species abundant on the coast of 

 New Hampshire, but " Mr. Brewster * * * * has looked for 

 it in vain at Rye Beach." Mr. Maynard doubts the occurrence 

 of these birds on the coast of Massachusetts, but, says Mr. 

 Allen, in his "Notes on the Rarer Birds of Massachusetts," 

 " they were formerly known to breed in the Chelsea marshes, 

 and probably do still." Wilson speaks of the Sea-side Finch 

 as "keeping almost continually within the boundaries of tide 

 water," and adds that " amidst the recesses of these wet sea 

 marshes it seeks the rankest growth of grass, and sea weed, 

 and climbs along the stalks of the rushes with as much dex- 

 terity as it runs along the ground, which is rather a singular 

 circumstance, most of our climbers being rather awkward at 

 running." 60 



(d). Their notes are said to be a chirp, and a song, hardly 

 worthy of the name, which is somewhat like that of the Yel- 

 low-winged Sparrow. 



(B) CAUDACUTUS. Sharp-tailed Finch. 



(A summer-resident in Massachusetts, but rare, being con- 

 fined to a few marshes and other places.) 



(a). About 5-J inches long. Tail-feathers more sharply 

 pointed than in maritimus. (Edge of the wing, yellowish.) 

 Crown, brownish, black-streaked, and with a median line. 

 Superciliary line, and sides of the head, orange-brown. Ear- 

 patch, and back, brown or gray, olive-tinted ; the latter dark- 

 streaked (with feathers pale-edged). Beneath, white; breast, 

 brownish-yellow, black- streaked. 



(b). The nest and eggs resemble very exactly those of the 

 Sea-side Finch, being found in marshes and on the sea-shore. 

 The eggs measure about -77X*55 of an inch, and are white, 

 gray-tinted, thickly, finely, and usually evenly marked with 

 brown, which sometimes predominates about the crown, or is 

 confluent. Mr. Brewster says that they are not laid here until 

 the first week of July, but these may belong to a second set. 



(c). With the Sharp-tailed Finches I can claim no intimate 



Vol. IV, p. 68. 



