192 
In the fall of 1885 the first at Emporia, Kans., was seen October 2. 
It was not noticed at Gainesville, Tex., until November 30. It is a 
common fall migraut at Manhattan, Kans. 
549. Ammodramus caudacutus (Gmel.). [201.] Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 
An inhabitant of the salt marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 
Mr. Nehrling said of its occurrence in southeastern Texas: ‘“ Observed 
near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. Doubtless 
breeds.” (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, p. 12.) 
549 a. Ammodramus caudacutus nelsoni Alln. [201 a.] Nelson’s Sharp-tailed 
Sparrow. 
This bird is known principally from the Mississippi Valley, but is 
rare and local. It has been taken as a rare summer resident in eastern 
Kansas, and probably breeds in southern Kansas. It breeds in north- 
ern [Illinois and probably wintersin southern Illinois. It has been taken 
at Saint Louis, Mo.* 
550. Ammodramus maritimus (Wils.). [202.] Seaside Finch; Seaside Sparrow. 
An inhabitant of the salt marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 
from Massachusetts to Texas. 
552. Chondestes grammacus (Say). [204.] Lark Finch. 
This Sparrow is a prairie bird, and it occurs as far east as the prairies 
extend across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas (even to the 
neighborhood of Houston in southern Texas, where it breeds abun- 
dantly.—Nehrling). Itisrarein Manitoba, Dr. Agersborg states that at 
Vermillion, Dak., three broods are often raised in aseason. It winters 
quite far south, being found in Mexico; a few winter in southern Texas. 
In Kansas it is an abundant summer resident. Its migration is late but 
rapid. In the spring of 1884, at Gainesville, Tex., it appeared April 5. 
By April 17 it had covered southern Missouri and southern Illinois to 
latitude 39° 19’. April 24 it had reached latitude 42° in Iowa, and 
April 30 it was seen at Waukon, Iowa, and Vermillion, Dak. May 3 
and May 4 it appeared at Lanesboro, Minn., and West Depere, Wis., 
but north of these points the records were not regular enough to be of 
value. Computation based on the above data shows that the species 
migrates at an average rate of about 30 miles a day over a distance of 
nearly a thousand miles. The average of the records indicate that the 
arrival of the bulk is about six days behind that of the first. 
In the fall of 1884 the bulk of the Lark Finches left Mount Carmel, 
Mo., August 20, and the last were seen there a week later. 
In the spring of 1885 no records came from the stations east of the 
Mississippi River. The average speed of migration of this species in 
* Mr. Vernon Bailey has recently found it breeding at Fort Sisseton and Devil’s Lake, 
Dak.—C, H, M, 
