232 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  [Proc. 4tm SER. 
still greater numbers in the uninhabited regions. It was com- 
mon in the humid belt, except on Indefatigable. On Abing- 
don the small-billed form of this species occurs both in the 
arid and the humid belts, while the large and slender-billed 
form seemed to be confined almost entirely to the humid belt 
of the island. In the elevated treeless, grassy country of 
Charles, Chatham, and southeast Albemarle they were com- 
mon. On Charles they were seen feeding commonly with the 
Sturdy Ground Finch on the top of the main peak, which was 
devoid of trees. On Chatham a few were seen along a 
medium-sized stream on the south slope of the island. In the 
great crater of southeast Albemarle, the vegetation of which 
is that of the arid region, they were common, as well as on 
the beautiful grassy pasture lands on the southern slope of 
the mountain. On Tagus Cove Mountain, Albemarle, they 
were common up to an altitude of 1500 feet; above that they 
were rather scarce, although the arid region extends to the 
top of the mountain (altitude 4000 feet) on the west side. 
Occasionally one was noted in a mangrove swamp. 
They fed singly and in large and small flocks on the 
ground. At certain seasons numbers were seen, usually 
singly, feeding in bushes like tree finches. This occurred 
mostly in the wet season when the foliage was green and 
there were fewer seeds on the ground than later. When not 
feeding, the birds usually retired to the bushes, cacti, and 
trees, and often during the hot part of the day kept well 
under cover, as did other species. The following is an ac- 
count of their feeding habits and food as observed in the field. 
When feeding below the high tide mark they seemed to be 
in search of small marine worms which occurred quite com- 
monly on the rocks. Birds were taken with their gullets full 
of these. They were seen feeding thus in September, Octo- 
ber, November, December, June, and July. A few were noted 
feeding at times on the white coral sand beaches. 
Above the littoral region they fed in the open spaces on the 
ground, small seeds forming the bulk of the food. At Post 
Office Bay, Charles, in October, they were seen feeding close 
to the shore in flocks of 20 to 30. This same habit was noted 
on other islands: Duncan, Indefatigable, southeast Albe- 
marle, etc. During October, on Barrington, I noted several 
