FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



297 



and probably Nova Sootia, and soutJiwurd in iiiigrHtion along the Atiantio 

 const" (D wight). 



Siiij,' Sing, rare T. V., Sept. 29 to Oct. 10. Cambridge, very'common T. 

 v.. May ; Sept. and <Jet. 



Since this race was separated by me in 1887 few new facts have been 

 developed reganling it, except that, as I anticipated, it ha.s been found 

 in other parts of the Maritime Provinces, and never far from salt water. 

 While frequenting brackish or fresh-water nnirshes, where the grasses 

 grow more luxuriantly than in the haunts of its southern relative, it 

 prefers the more open spots or those where damp ditches nnike high- 

 ways of escape for it afoot. It is locally abundant, particularly in the 

 great marshes that border the Hay of Fundy, but so retiring that, save 

 for its little song, its presence might be easily overlooked. Swaying 

 on a tall stalk of meadow rue or scjuatting on a ctmvenient fence, the 

 males may be found at all hours of the day repeating their song a few 

 times and then flying to some new perch or burying themselves in the 

 grass. Occasionally toward nightfall one will mount into the air and 

 with set wings float down, fairly gusliing with .song, a hauit shared by 

 the ordinary Sharp-tail and by the Seaside Sparrow as well. 



With these birds they a.ssociate in autumn, and nuiy bo flushed one 

 or two at a time from the strips of grass or reeds that are left on the 

 salt marshes along the ditches after the hay has been cut. 



The song is a husky, gasping effort, not very loud, and executed 

 with a nod of the head. It is sung in less than a second, and resem- 

 bles ksh-Hh-Hh-ool p, the last syllable occupying one fifth of the time 

 and rather nmsical compared with the harsh lisp that precedes it. 

 They also have a tcMp of alarm, but it is the exception for them to 

 show much anxiety about their nests or young. The nest has never 

 been taken. J. Dwight, Jr. 



550. Anunodramus maritimus ( Wlh.). Seaside SrAitKow. Ad. 

 — A yellow line before the eye ami on the beud of the wing; upper parts 

 grayish olive-green: tail grayish brown, 

 tiie outer webs of the feathers inar- 

 giiied with olive-greenish ; a ihisky 

 line from the base of the lower mandi- 

 ble passes down the sides of the throat; 

 breast more or less suffused with butfy 

 (wanting in summer specimens), and 

 indistinctly streaked with grayish ; 

 throat and middle of the belly white; 

 sides grayish. L., G-00; W., 2-50; T., 

 2-20 ; B., -60. 



/^««(7«?.— Atlantic coast ; breeds from North Carolina to Massachusetts, and 

 winters from Virginia to Georgia. 



Sing Sing, A. V. 



Fio. 84. 



-Seaside Sparrow. (Natural 

 size.) 



