THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 233 



tail-coverts, and conspicuously streaked with black, except on the throat and 

 middle of the abdomen. 



Young in first summer. Above and below, buff; top of head and broad stripes 

 on the back, black ; lower parts streaked on breast and sides with dusky. 



Nest of grass on the ground ; eggs, greenish-white, speckled with reddish- 

 brown, .75 x .55. 



Abundant summer resident on the salt meadows of the coast and 

 Delaware Bay, and in the vicinity of New York City; occasional in 

 winter, at least from Atlantic City southward. Has also been taken 

 on the Passaic below Chatham (Thurber). 



This is the "most abundant bird on the broad salt meadows which 

 line our coast, It may be seen running about over the muddy flats 

 where a scant growth of grass serves as shelter, and now and then 

 fluttering up a few feet in the air, uttering a curious spluttering song 

 as it sinks back on outstretched wings to the cover of the "thatch." 

 The plumage of these birds is subjected to great wear by the coarse 

 grass in which they live, and, unlike most Sparrows, they have two 

 complete moults a year, so that May and October specimens are in 

 beautiful fresh plumage, while in March and August they are worn to 

 a dull grayish tint, with the markings very indistinct. 



549.1 Passerherbulus nelson! (Allen). 

 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 



Similar to the Sharp-tailed Sparrow, but smaller, especially the bill ; colors 

 above, brighter and very sharply contrasted, the white streaks very prominent; 

 buff on breast much deeper and brighter, and streaks almost absent or very pale. 



Rather scarce transient visitant, associating with the preceding on 

 the salt meadows of the coast; also in the Hudson Valley. 1 Speci- 

 mens nave been taken May 9th and October 10th, 1892, by Mr. I. N. 

 DeHaven. 2 



1 Chapman, Birds Vicinity of N. Y., p. 171. 



2 Stone, Birds of E. Pa. and N. J., p. 115. 



