184 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



THE PRAIRIE BUNTING FINCH. 



The Prairie Bunting Finch (Passerculns savannas) is one of the most numerous members of 

 this group ; it is distinguished by its short conical beak, the upper mandible of which is short; by its 

 rounded wings, having the third and fourth quills longer than the rest ; short graduated tail, moderate 

 tarsus, and soft velvety plumage. Upon the upper portion of the body the feathers are of a pale 

 reddish brown, presenting somewhat the appearance of being spotted, owing to the darker tint upon 

 the shafts ; the lower parts are white, marked upon the breast with small deep brown spots, and the 

 sides are streaked with the same colour. The beak is dark brown upon the upper mandible, the 

 lower one a shade paler ; the eyes are brown ; the feet of a light flesh colour. The length of this bird 

 is five and a half inches, and its breadth eight and a half inches. The female resembles the male, 

 but her plumage is lighter in its tints. 



We learn from Audubon that the Prairie Bunting Finch is one of the most beautiful and widely 

 distributed of its kind. It is met with in the Northern States from October to April, inhabiting 

 fields and woodland districts, and living chiefly upon the ground, where its movements are extremely 

 nimble, and resemble those of a mouse ; indeed, it only uses its wings when closely pursued, or 

 suddenly alarmed : its flight is irregular but continuous. This species seems to prefer high grounds at 

 no great distance from the coast, and is rarely found inhabiting the interior of woods and forests. During 

 the winter these birds unite themselves to flocks of their congeners, generally passing the day in flying 

 about in search of food in the fields or gardens, and sleeping at night upon the ground. The nest, which 

 is constructed of hay, and lined with some finer materials, is usually placed in a hole upon the ground, 

 or else under the shelter of a bush or high tuft of grass. The eggs, from four to six in number, are of 

 a pale blue colour, marked with purplish-brown spots, which occasionally take the form of a wreath at 

 the broader end of the shell. In the more central States these birds breed twice, whilst farther north 

 they do not lay more than once in the year. The Prairie Bunting Finch is by no means suitable for 

 domestication, as it is almost entirely without voice ; but it affords a not unpleasing article of food, 

 both to man and to its still more formidable enemies, the Falcon and Mink. 



The SHORE FINCHES (Ammodromus) are likewise included in the family of Bunting Finches. 

 They are recognisable by their slender, elongated, pointed beak, compressed at its edges ; their wings 

 and tail are of moderate length, with the feathers variously coloured at their extremities. 



THE SEA BUNTING FINCH. 



The Sea Bunting Finch (Ammodromus maritimus) is about six or seven inches long and 

 from ten to eleven inches across the wings. The upper portion of the body is greenish brown, the 

 breast ash grey, the throat and belly white, the bridles and a streak on the top of the head dark grey ; 

 a yellow line passes over the eyes. The wings are yellow, bordered by a broad crooked line of brown, 

 the beak and feet are brown, the eyes dark brown. 



This very remarkable species does not resemble a Finch in its mode of life, but dwells like a 

 Sandpiper upon the sea-shore, and passes its time in running nimbly and rapidly at the water's edge, 

 or climbing about among the reeds with the agility of a Reed Bunting. Its principal nourishment 

 consists of shrimps, small crabs, sea snails, and little fishes, this food imparting to its flesh a flavour of 

 train oil, so generally observable in most sea birds. Marshes producing reeds and high grass, and 

 well covered with sea water, are the favourite resorts of these birds, and there they build their nests, 

 care being taken to place them in some tuft of grass that is beyond the reach of the waves ; the little 

 cradle is formed of coarse grass lined with a bed of finer quality ; the eggs, from four to six in number, 

 are greyish white, spotted with brown. As far as we can learn, they breed twice in the year. 



