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296 



FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



Remarks. — The chief points of difference between this and the two fol- 

 lowin]i( birds urc found in the inurkinj,'s oftlic breust und sides. In the pres- 

 ent spcciea these purts ure pule oeliriiceous-butf, distinctly strcuked witii 

 blackish ; in nelso/il tlicy arc deep ochraccous-biilf, lijrhtly if at all streaked ; 

 in mibciiyatUK they arc crcani-butf, indistinctly streaked with grayish. 



liaiKji;. — Atlantic coast; breads from South Carolina to New Hampshire, 

 and winters from North Carolina to Florida. 



Cambridije, common S. li., May to Sept. 



Aext, of grasses and seaweed, lijied with tine grasses, on the ground. Ji(j(js, 

 three to four, winte or grayish wliitc, finely speckled with cinnamon-brown, 

 especially at the larger end, "78 x -57. 



Thi.s species is confined exclusively to the salt-water marshes of our 

 coast, where it may be found in large numbers. It runs about among 

 the reeds and grasses with the celerity of a mouse, and is not apt to 

 take wing unless closely pressed. ^lixed flocks of the several varieties 

 of the Sharp-tail, together with the Seaside Sparrow, gather in the fall 

 among the sedges, and may be observed hiditig in the grass or clitig- 

 ing to the tall stalks of the cat-tails. In the breeding season it is 

 usually associated with tiie Seaside Sparrow on the same nuirsh, but 

 it prefers the drier parts, and builds its nest in the tussocks on the 

 bank of a ditch or in the drift left by the tide, rather than in tlie 

 grassier sites chosen by its neighbor. 



From some bit of driftwood or a convenieiu stake its infrequent 

 song may be heard morning and evening. It is short and gasping, 

 and only less husky than the somewhat similar performance of the 

 Seaside Sparrow. J. Dwigiit, Jr. 



649aM A. C. nelsoni Allen. Nklson's Smaup-taileu Sparrow. — Sim- 

 ilar to A. cmiditcutun, but smaller, the upper parts darker, the feathei-s of 

 the back more olive-brown and more hroa.d\y niargiued with wldtinh ; the 

 throat, breast, and sides deeper ochraceous-butt", very slightly if at all streaked 

 with blackish. " L., S-oO ; W., 1->h ; T., 1-!I0 ; B., •4;j " (Dwight ). 



KaiHje. — Breeds»in tlie marshes of the interior from northern Illinois 

 northward to Dakota and Manitoba ; occurs as a migrant on the Atlantic coast, 

 and winters from South Carolini'. to Texas. 



Washington, rare T. V., two instances, Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably com- 

 mon T. v., Sept. 28 to Oct. 17. 



This interior representative of the Sharp-tai'ed Sparrow occurs on 

 our coasts only as a migrant and winter visitant. It associates with 

 the Sharp-tailed and Acadian Sharp-tailed Sjjarrow. 



549b. A. C. subvirgatus Diriqht. Acadian Suarp-tailkd Spar- 

 row. — Similar to A. eauddciitus, but with the throat, breast, and sides washed 

 with cream-buff" and indistinctly streaked with ashy. "L., 5"55; W., 230 ; 

 T., 2-00; B., -40" (Dwight). 



Eange. — " Marshes of southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, 



msm 



