298 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



Nest, of coarse grasses and reed stalks, lined with grasses, on the ground. 

 Eggs, three to four, white or bluish white, clouded or finely speckled with 

 cinnamon-brown, especially at the larger end, -80 x -63. 



Like most marsh-loving birds, Seaside Sparrows are so consistent 

 in their choice of a home that it would be quite useless to look for 

 them anywhere but in a marsh, and that a salt one, generally within 

 sound or at least sight of the sea. The baymen call them " Meadow 

 Chippies," and often when Snipe and Plover shooting 1 have drawn 

 numbers to me by simply squeaking. They tipped all the reeds about 

 my blind, chirping excitedly at the peculiar sound which aroused 

 their curiosity. They pass much of their time on the ground among 

 the reeds and grasses, but mount a stalk to sing their short, unattract- 

 ive song of four or five notes. Sometimes they flutter into the air a 

 few feet above the reeds and deliver their song while on the wing. 



The absence of distinct streaks on the breast and lack of rufous 

 in their olivaceous or grayish plumage will distinguish them from the 

 Sharp-tailed, Swamp, Savanna, or Song Sparrows, the only ones which 

 are likely to be found in their haunts. 



550a. A. m. peninsulas Allen. SCOTT'S SEASIDE SPARROW. Similar 

 to the preceding, but much darker ; prevailing color of the upper parts brown- 

 ish black, the feathers margined with grayish olive-green ; under parts more 

 heavily streaked, the breast and sides streaked with black or blackish. W., 

 2-30 ; T., 2-00 ; B., -52. 



Range. Atlantic coast from northern Florida to South Carolina; Gulf 

 coast from Florida to Texas. 



A common southern representative of the Seaside Sparrow. 



551. Ammodramus nigrescens Ridgw. DTSKY SEASIDE SPARROW. 

 Ad. Upper parts black, narrowly margined with grayish and grayish olive- 

 green ; under parts sharply streaked with black and white in about equal 

 proportions. "L., 5-95; W., 2-25-2-40; T., 2-10-2-50: B., -50--60" (Kidgw.). 



Remarks. This species is very distinct, and can be at once distinguished 

 from A. m. peninsula, its nearest known ally, by its much darker upper parts 

 and conspicuously streaked under parts. 



Range. Marshes at the northern end of Indhin River, Florida. 



Nest and eggs unknown. 



Mr. C. J. Maynard, the only collector who has ever met with this 

 species, found a single individual, March 17, 1872, at Salt Lake, near 

 Titusville, while in April it was "quite common on the marshes of 

 Indian River just below Dummett's Grove." and " very abundant on 

 the upper end of Merritt's Island." I have searched for it most care- 

 fully, but without success, during February and March in the marshes 

 of the east peninsula of Indian River opposite Micco, and for a species 

 which is not rare, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow apparently has a more 



