THE SEA SIDE SPARROW. 549 



approach of winter, it is now well made out by Mr. Wm. 

 Dutcher and others to be a winter resident, even in its 

 most northern habitat. Probably while the greater number 

 migrate, some remain. This species may be found on rivers 

 and other bodies of water more or less in the vicinity of 

 the sea. It feeds quite commonly on dead fish, but also 

 on any garbage found about the water, and is specially 

 fond of certain lizards, which swim with their heads above 

 the water, and which it captures alive, and it is also a vora- 

 cious devourer of the eggs of other birds, especially those of 

 the water-fowl breeding along or near the sea-coast. 



Its nidification is very similar to that of the Common 

 Crow. Size of eggs some 1.45X1.10. 



THE SEA-SIDE SPARROW. 



From the sedges and the tall marsh-grass near the sea, I 

 frequently heard the peculiar song of the Sea-side Sparrow 

 (Ammodromus maritimus). The melody has but few notes, 

 the first several being liquid but abrupt, and the last two 

 or three somewhat prolonged. Generally the singer is 

 hidden from sight, or can barely be seen as he swings in 

 the moving tops of grasses and sedges; but occasionally he 

 will toss himself up into the air, after the manner of the 

 Long-billed Marsh Wren, his song then becoming a 

 resonant twitter. The singer is always much excited, 

 ruffling his feathers, spreading his tail, and shaking 

 himself enthusiastically. About 5.50 long, the bill is some- 

 what lengthened and slender, the tail feathers short, narrow 

 and pointed, the wings short and rounded, and the feet 

 very large. The color is olive-gray above, streaked with 

 dusky; beneath, ashy-white, clearer on the throat and 

 darker on the sides and flanks; sides of the head and rather 

 obscure streaks below, dusky; line from the bill over the 



