394 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



mount a stalk to sing their short, unattractive 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, Savannah, or Song Sparrows, the only ones which 

 are likely to be found in their haunts. 



550a. P. m. peninsulse (Allen). SCOTT'S SEASIDE SPARROW. Similar 

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

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

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

 2'30; T., 2'00; B., '52. 



Range. W. coast of Fla., w. probably to Ala. 



550c. P. m. fisheri (Chapm.). LOUISIANA SEASIDE SPARROW. Similar 

 to P. in, peninsula but darker above, the breast and sides heavily washed with 

 rusty buff and streaked with black. 



Range. Cen. Gulf coast. Breeds on coasts of La. and Miss. ; winters sw. 

 along the coast to Corpus Christi, Tex., and e. to Tarpon Springs, Fla.; 

 casual at Charleston, S. C. 



550d. P. m. macgillivraii (And.). MACGILLIVRAY'S SEASIDE SPAR- 

 ROW. Similar to P. m. fisheri but above grayer, less black; breast and flanks 

 but faintly washed with buff and streaked with dusky grayish. Grayer 

 above than P. m. peninsula and less heavily streaked below. 



Range. S. Atlantic coast. Breeds from N. C. to Ga. and n. Fla. ; winters 

 along the Gulf coast to La. 



551. Passerherbulus nigrescens (Ridgw.]. DUSKY SEASIDE SPARROW. 

 Ads. Upperparts black, narrowly margined with grayish and grayish olive- 

 green; underparts sharply streaked with black and white in about equal 

 proportions. "L., 5'95; W., 2'25-2'40; T., 2'10-2'50; B., 'SO-W (Ridgw.). 



Range. Marshes at n. end of Indian River, Fla. 

 Nest and eggs unknown. 



This Sparrow has been recorded from Salt Lake, near Titusville, 

 Fla., but with this exception it appears to be confined to the western 

 side of Merritt's Island on the opposite shore of Indian River. In 

 March, 1898, I found it to be abundant near the mouth of Dummitt's 

 Creek where it inhabited the sedge (Borrichia) bordering the water and 

 the adjoining grassy marshes. Savannah and Swamp Sparrows were 

 also common in these marshes. The paler color and darting, more 

 extended flight of the former at once distinguished it from nigrescens, 

 which, while more like the Swamp Sparrow, was soon recognized by its 

 darker colors and shorter, more hesitating flight. The birds were not 

 in song. 



In view of the fact that this species is abundant and that the region 

 it inhabits is in no sense isolated, but that both to the north and south 

 there are marshes apparently similar to those it occupies, the restriction 

 of its range to an area only a few square miles in extent make its dis- 

 tribution unique among North American birds. 



552. Chondestes grammacus grammacus (Say). LARK SPARROW. 

 Ads. Sides of the crown and ear-coverts chestnut, a whitish line over the 



