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MACGILLIVRAY’S FINCH. 
FRINGILLA MacGILLIVRAII., 
PLATE CCCLV. Mate anp FEMALE. 
Wuitst Bacuman’s Finch resides in the pine forests of the Caro- 
linas and other Southern States, preferring dry and sandy lands covered 
with grasses; and whilst Henstow’s Bunting or Finch, and the Yel- 
low-winged Bunting, are fond of open prairies and ploughed fields, in 
which they nestle ; the species, on which I have bestowed the name of 
my friend MaceciLLivray, chooses for its residence the salt marshes of 
our Southern Atlantic shores, in which also are found the Sharp-tailed 
and Seaside Finches of Witson and other authors. The three former 
spend the greater part of the winter in the forests, perch occasion- 
ally on trees, and feed principally on seeds; whereas the latter three 
are never found elsewhere than in the salt marshes, and feed chiefly on 
minute shells and aquatic insects. Were I therefore to adopt the mi- 
nimum generic groups which have become prevalent, I would place the 
three birds of the interior in a genus apart. from that containing the 
three marsh-birds. 
Macei.uivray’s Finch is as yet very rare within the United States, 
and has not been observed farther eastward than Sullivan Island, about 
six miles from Charleston in South Carolina; but it is very abundant 
in the Texas, occurring on all the low islands that are much intersected 
by salt-water bayous, and interspersed with ponds of brackish water, 
seldom leaving these localities unless whilst travelling, or passing from 
one island to another, which they do by flying at the height of only a 
few feet above the surface. They run among the rankest weeds with 
uncommon celerity, and do not seem to mind being followed by a dog, 
which they very easily elude amongst the thick grass. Whilst breed- 
ing they often start from a little distance, and pursue ‘a singularly ir- 
regular or zigzag flight, much resembling that of the Jack Snipe of 
Europe, and yet performed with apparently slow beats of the wings. 
They fall as it were among the grass as suddenly as they rise from it, 
and by these manceuvres save their nests from the searching eye of 
the keenest student of nature. They very seldom alight on the stems 
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