PEVCJEA JESTIVAL1S. 125 



the north about the middle of October und enter the marshes of the Carolinas and Georgia 

 where they urc exceedingly abundant. They are also common in the marshy country just 

 north of the St. Johns River, Florida, but are not to be found in any numbers south of 

 this point on the cast coast. In fact I never saw a single specimen below Mosquito Inlet. 

 There were a few, however, about Cedar Keys in company with the Gray Shore Finch, 

 but I saw no indications whatever of their breeding, as was the case with the preceding, 

 species, and I think, beyond a doubt, that they all leave Florida by the middle of April. 

 They linger somewhat while on the migration, for they do not reach their breeding grounds 

 until late in spring; in fact they are one of the very last among the Sparrows to make their 

 appearance. 



GENUS XVII. PEUC^EA. THE GRASS FINCHES. 



(JKV. f'n. Bill, slender, hit not thick nor swollen at base. Upper mandible, considerably curved. Wings, sltarter than 

 tin' tail which is much graduated, and with the feathers narrow but not acuminate. Sternum, stout, with the coracoids about 

 1'iuiil in /myth to the top of the keel. Keel, exceeding in height one third the length of the coracoids. Feet, small. 



All the species are streaked above but have only a few markings below. The toes are quite short and the feet small. 

 The edge of the wing is yellow. 



PEUCJEA .SJSTIVALIS. 



Pine Wood Finch. 

 Peucaa (estivalis CABINIS, Mas. Ilein., 1850, 132. 



. DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cn. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Tongue, thin and horny, provided with a bifid tuft of long, terminal, 

 hair-like libers. Sternum, as given above. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, including the outer edges of the wings and tail feathers, dark-chestnut, with the feathers ed- 

 ged with ashy. The back and upper tail coverts arc streaked with dark-brown. There is a median line of ashy extending 

 f;-i mi the bill to the occiput. Wings and tail, brown. Under parts, supercilary line, and ring around eye, brownish-yellow, 

 clearest on the belly and abdomen, darkest on the breast. Edge of wing, yellow. Bill, brown, very much lighter at base 

 of lower mandible. Feet, pale-brown. 



Young. Similar to the adult, but more reddish alx>ve where there is less ashy. There are indications of maxillary 

 lines i.if dusky and there are some narrow streakings across the breast where the brownish-yellow tinging is somewhat 

 darker Sexes, similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens vary greatly in the amount of ashy edging to the feathers above. The females, although quite similar to 

 the males, arc inclined to lie redder above and to have streakings below. Readily distinguished from all others by the 

 chestnut markings alwve combined with the graduated tail and yellow edge of wing. Found in summer through the dry 

 piney woods along the coast, from Middle Florida to the Carolinas, and in the interior as far north as Southern Indiana. 

 Winters in Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty-five specimens. Length, 5'70; stretch, 7'87; wing, 2'37; tail, 2'44; bill, '50; tarsus, 

 (>. Longest specimen, 6'20; greatest extant of win?, 8'20; bngast win',', 2-56; tail, 2'60; bill, '55; tarsus, -76. Shortest 

 specimen, 5'60; smallest extent of wing, 7'75; shortest wing, 2"23; tail, 2'35; bill r '45; tarsus, '62. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nt'sls, placed on the ground. They are loosely constructed , being composed of rather coarse grass lined with finer. 

 Dimensions; external diameter, 4'00, internal, 3'00. External depth, 2'50, internal, 1-.50. 



Eyys, fiur or live in number, rather oval in form, pure, brilliant white in color. They are, I believe, never siitted. 

 Dimensions from -0x 'GO to 'Six '63. 



