SHARP-TAILED FINCH. 123 



Count. Ailult in sirring. Above, including the outer edges of the tail feathers, and car coverts, yellowish-rufous, 

 with the remainder < f the wings and tail, and top of head streaked with (lark brown. Supercilary and innxillury lines, 

 spaee baek nf ear diverts, ninl limd amiss lireast, ImfT. Meilian line, extending from bill to occiput, ashy. Beneath, 

 white, finely streaked mi the' breast, sides, and flanks with dark-brown, while there is a bufly tinge on the two latter and 

 on the undiT tail eo\ert~: there are also a few dusky streakings below the maxillary lines. Edge of wing, yellow. Bill, 

 brown, lighter at base of lower mandible. Feet, brown. 



Adult in trinlrr. Has a greenish tinge to the plumage above, the ashy median line is clearer, the bufly markings on 

 the head are yellower and the tinging on the sides and flanks, stronger. The ear coverts are ashy, the feathers of the scap- 

 ul.iri - a iv edged with white and the dark mark markings below are broader. 



Young. Similar to the almve, but with a brownish hue on the top of the head which completely obscures the streak- 

 ing-. The dark marking-; almvo are not as prominent but the white edgings are broader. The bufly tinging beneath 

 i-; more extended and the streakings are not as clear. 



Young of the year. Very nueh tinged with greenish above where the feathers show ashy edgings. The streakings be- 

 low are n.-arly obscured, while the bully ting;; i- extended over the throat and ear coverts. 



Xftt/inys. Birds in this stage present quite a singular appearance being bufly above and below, broadly streaked on 

 the upper parts with dark-brown and more finely below in a similar manner as the adult. The tail feathers are not nearly 

 a aeeuminate. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The breadth of the streakings below vary with individuals as do also those above, and one specimen has a yellow line 

 from base of upper mandible to point over the eye, as in the preceding species. This bird presents a singular variety of 

 markings, from the first to the final plumage. As will be seen, the streakings above and below are at first prominent then 



me nearly obsolete, only to come out broad and clear after the next moult, when they gradually narrow down to the 

 adult stage. The buff, however, which at first tinges the entire bird, grows gradually less until it only covers restricted 

 areas. Itcudily distinguished from nil others by the buff markings as described. Found in summer along the coast from 

 Maryland to New Hampshire, and in some of the large marshes of the interior. Winters from the Carolinas to Middle 

 Florida and on the Northern portion of the Gulf of Mexico. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty-five specimens. Length, 5-50; stretch, 7-70; wing, 2-45; tail, 1'77; bill, -47; tarsus, 

 77. I. mi:'"-: specimen, 5'85; greatest extant of wing, 8'10; longest wing, 2-76; tail, 2'10; bill, '55; tarsus,-85. Shortest 

 specimen, .VI"); simlljit extent of wing, 7'33; shortsnt whig, 2' 15; tail, 1'45; bill, "40; tarsm, '70. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



.Y<.sV.<, placed on the ground. They are loosely constructed, being composed of grass lined with finer. Dimensions; 

 external diameter, 1'IXl. internal, 3'00. Extarnal depth, 2'50, internal, 1-50. 



Eyys, four or live in number, rather elliptical in form, pale-blue in color, spotted and dotted quite finely with rufous. 

 Dimen.4,n-i from -75x'55 to -80x'60. 



HABITS. 



The salt marshes which border the coast of Massachusetts are usually comparatively 

 solid or at least firm enough to bear the weight of a man, but some spots are very peculiar 

 tu ing composed of soft mud overlaid with sod. Thus these slough, as they are termed, 

 arc very deceptive, as the surface which looks solid to the eye proves very yielding to the 

 feet and the unwary pedestrian finds himself submerged to the armpits in soft slimy ooze, 

 the odor of which is only exceeded by its pertinacity in adhering to the clothing. These 

 singular places arc doubtless the remains of lagoons or small bays, that have been sur- 

 rounded by the slowly forming marshes which have gradually encroached upon the space 

 occupied by the water. Indeed this transformation of water into earth may be plainly 

 seen in progress, for some portions are not even covered with vegetation, others merely 

 support the sod; while small peninsulas have made out which arc firm enough to walk 

 upon. These' are covered with a species of short, wiry grass that grows very thickly and, 

 as it is never cut, the dead growth of previous seasons accumulates, forming a mat. The 

 insecurity of the footing prevents cattle or other mammals from wandering on such places 



