44 ANTHUS LUDOV2CIANUS. 



HABITS. 



All along the eastern side of Indian River are immense savannas that are covered with short 

 grass which grows so thickly that it becomes matted together. Pools are scattered at intervals 

 over these plains, on the margins of which are low mangroves, button-woods, and other shrubs 

 peculiar to this section. These thickets together with the grass form the resorts of the 

 Short-billed Marsh Wrens. They are not abundant, yet this is the only place where I have 

 ever seen them in Florida ; if they breed there it must be Lite in the season for they were 

 moulting in the latter part of April. These birds were exceedingly shy in this place and would 

 hide so persistently in the grass and bushes that it was almost impossible to make them rise. 



I never heard this Marsh Wren utter a sound in Florida, but in the fresh-water marshes of 

 the North they are quite noisy, and I have frequently heard individuals sing all night. Their 

 notes are not fine but, although monotonous, are more elaborate than those of the Long-billed 

 and are better entitled to the name of song. Like the preceding species these birds build in 

 the tops of the grass, and also construct several nests ; the one which contains the eggs is 

 commonly placed lower than the rest and is more carefully concealed. Those which pass the 

 summer in Massachusetts arrive about May 15th ; breed in early June ; moult in August and 

 depart for the South in October. 



FAMILY VII. MOTACILLID.E. THE WAGTAILS. 



Marginal indentations of sternum, equal in depth the height of the keel. Coracoid bones, shorter than the top of 

 the keel. Keel, higher than one-half the width of the sternum. Hind claw, more than twice the length of the anterior 

 claws. <> 



This family is largely represented by Old World genera and species. 



GENUS I. ANTHUS. THE TITLAEKS. 



GEN. CH. Same as those given for the family. 



I have been obliged to base the family characters upon this genus as I have no other material at hand. 

 This arrangement, however, will serve as well as any other for American students. 



ANTHUS LUDOVICIANUS. 

 Titlark. 



Anthus ludovicianus LIGHT. Verz., 1823, 37. No. 421. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, slender. Size, not large. Bill, shorter than the head, slender and acuminate. Wings, long 

 and pointed. Tail, rather long and slightly emarginate. Sternum, not stoutly built. Tongue, thin, horny, very 

 acuminate with the tip bifid and ciliated. 



COLOR. Adult in spring. Above, olivaceous brown with each feather having a darker centre. Beneath, 

 reddish-brown with a maxillary line of dark brown spots, which also extends across the breast and along the sides. 

 Wings and tail, dark brown, with the outer webs edged with yellowish-white. The two outer tail feathers are tipped 

 with white ; this color extends along the outer web of the first feather for three-fourths its length. The third tail 

 feather is also sometimes tipped with white. The under wing coverts are pale yellowish-white streaked with dusky. 

 There is a yellowish ring around the eye and a stripe over it of the same color. 



In Autumn the colors beneath are paler. 



The young diner from the adult in being paler and in having less white on the tail. Sexes alike. Irides, feet and 

 bill, brown, the latter lighter at the base of the lower mandible. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



In a large series of specimens before me there is considerable variation in the number and size of the spots 

 beneath, and those which are most spotted are darker above. The only bird with which 'this is likely to be confounded 

 is the Missouri Skylark but this is whiter on the under portions, has the outer tail feathers pure white, and the feet 

 and bill yellow. This species breeds far north but is found during the migrations throughout North America. 



