SHARP- TAILED FINCH. 285 



Another species of Finch, belonging to the same group, and which, 

 like F. maritima and F. caudacuta, is found abundantly in the salt marshes 

 of the Carolinas, has been discovered by my most worthy friend the Rev. 

 John Bachman of Charleston, who has presented me with a dozen spe- 

 cimens of it. With his approval, I have named it after a gentleman who, 

 besides being my friend, is possessed, not only of a technical, but also of 

 a practical knowledge of ornithology, and of whom I may safely say, that 

 he is unquestionably the best portrayer of the feathered race that I know. 

 It was my intention to have had the figures of this newly discovered spe- 

 cies, which were drawn at Charleston by my son John Woodhouse, en- 

 graved for the second volume of "■ The Birds of America ;" but the draw- 

 ing did not reach London in time. The plate, however, is finished, and 

 \vill appear in the fourth and last volume of that work. In the mean 

 time, I subjoin a brief description. 



MACGILLIVRAY'S FINCH. 



Fringilla Macgillivraii, 



Bill rather long, in other respects similar to those of the two species 

 mentioned above, as are the proportions of the different parts, and the 

 texture of the plumage. The second, third, and fourth quills are equal 

 and longest, and the tail is rounded. 



Bill dusky-brown above, the ades of the upper mandible paler, the 

 lower mandible bluish-grey. Iris hazel. Feet dark brown. The co- 

 louring is similar to that of F. maritima in the upper parts, and to 

 that of F. caudacuta in the lower, but is darker above than the form- 

 er, and duller beneath than the latter. Feathers of the head brownish- 

 black margined with dull greyish-brown, but not grey in the middle nor 

 darker towards the sides, as in the other species. Hind neck and back of 

 the same colour, the middle of the latter having some of the margins pale 

 reddish-brown. Primary quiUs hair-brown ; secondary dark bi^own, edged 

 with reddish-brown ; the secondary and smaller coverts like the latter ; 

 the edge of the wing white, slightly tinged with yellow. Tail-feathers 

 hair-brown at the edges, the centre blackish-brown, except the lateral, 

 which are plain, but scarcely paler. A yellowish-brown streak from the 

 nostrils over the eye. Throat and fore neck greyish- white, with an in- 

 distinct dusky streak on each side. Breast and sides pale dull yellowish- 



