] • I ! I \ ( i I L L I DJE - T 1 1 1-: VI XC 11 IvS. 54 3 



yellow on tlio liui> ' mul wiiij.'. Tlic nmcli sliorter tail and entire absence of 

 nitbiis di.stii)<,qii,sli it IVoni tlie spotted Mr/asjii-dK In sIiajK! tlie liili is jiku 

 that of Aiamudruiitus cuaduvutus, but it is laryur; the head lucks tlie yel- 

 low, etc. 



In .s(jine specimens the streaks on the l)ack are almost obsolete. 

 IIauits. .So liir as is known, this lard seems to ha\ e a soniewluit restricted 

 habitat, being ap]iarently contined to the sea-coast of Southern ( 'alilornia. 

 There it was first met with' by Dr. Ileermaun, in tlie neighborhood nf San 

 J)iego, and was desciibed by Mr. Cassin as an Aiiuiwi/roiiiiix, with which 

 genu.s of birds it seemed to have many jjeculiarities in common. Dr. Ileer- 

 mann first met with this bird in Usr.l, on the siiores of the bay of San Diego, 

 in company with other species, api)arently in search of grass-seed. After- 

 wards, in the I'acilic l.'ailroad Survey, witii Lieutenant Williaui.son, he again 

 met with these birds in considerable nund)ers at Santa liarbara and San !'((- 

 dro. In all the places in whicli he met with it he found it frwpicnting low 

 sandy beaches, and the heavy sedge-grass which abounds on the shores. On 

 the former it seemed to l)e feeding on marine insects and seeds thrown up 

 by the tide, and in the latter to tind places for easy and immediate conceal- 

 ment when alarmed or pursued. Naturally it appeared to be a quiet and 

 unsu.spicious bird. He heard it utter no other note than a .short sliarj) chirp. 

 J)r. Cooper thinks this sjiecies has a nnicli greater ailinity to the Aunno- 

 drami thiui to the 7'^^s•.^rr(7^//, both in its bill and claw.s, as well as in its 

 habits. He found them very abundant, lioth at San Pedro and San Diego, 

 at all seasons, and he does not think that they migrate at all from those 

 localities. He found them frecpienting the .shores of the bays and the ,sea- 

 beache.s. They also came confidently and familiarly about the buildings near 

 the water, feeding on any seeds or insects they could find. On the beacli 

 they run along the sand, in the rows of drifted sea-weeds, seeking their 

 food, and rarely take to flight unless surjiriscd, and then oidy fly a short 

 distance. Dr. Cooper has never known them to alight on any bush, nor does 

 he think that they have any song. The only note he has ever heanl them 

 utter is a short chirp. At San Pedro he saw them, in July, feeding their 

 young, but he has never found a nest that he was certain belonged to this 

 si:)ecies. 



Dr. Cones found this bird abundant in Southern California, where it kept 

 among the thick weeds of the dry plain, and was much on the ground, where 

 it ran as easily as a ripilo, often flying up into the bushes and resting there 

 (piietly. They were to be seen also in great nundiers .sunning them.selves 

 and catching Hies on the piles of lumber on tlie wharf, so tame as to be almost 

 liable to be struck by a cane. 



It is a winter I'esident at Cape St. Lucas, where Mr. Xantus found them 

 abundant. They were not seen there in summer, though it is ])robalile they 

 reside on the shores in its neighborhood. Their nest and eggs remain 

 unknown. 



