78. 
238. 
FRINGILLIDE: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS, ETC. , 367 
streaks on the sides. General coloration more or less buff, according to age and season. 
Crown with black lateral stripes, separated by a whitish stripe becoming ochrey on forehead. 
Sides of head buff, brightest on the long broad superciliary line, enclosing slaty-gray auriculars, 
which are bordered above by a black post-ocular line, sometimes chiefly appearing as a dark speck 
behind them. Cervical feathers bay, black-shafted and whitish-edged, forming a distinct inter- 
.val between markings of back and crown. Dorsal feathers in bold pattern, with black terminal 
central field, little rufous and much whitish or buffy edging ; streaking extending ou rump and 
upper tail-coverts. Wing-coverts and inner secondaries colored boldly to correspond with the 
back. Under parts buffy-white, sometimes quite whitish, again much more buffy, with season, 
usually quite buff with only belly whitish. Fresh moulted fall birds are often entirely deep 
buff below, excepting the belly, which is white, in marked contrast. Young: Bill still smaller, 
reddish-brown instead of bluish ; general color buff above, whitish below, more or less buffy on 
breast and sides; markings of upper parts black, without the bay and brown variegation, except 
on wings and tail, which are nearly as in the adults; sparse black streaks of under parts usually 
appearing across breast as well as on sides. An interesting, long-lost species, recently redis- 
covered: Yellowstone R. (Audubon, 1843); Texas (Lincecum); Dakota (Coues, 1873) ; 
Illinois (Nelson, 1875) ; Iowa (Newton, 1875) ; Minnesota (Tiffany, 1878) ; South Carolina! 
(Loomis, 1881.) Approaching Ammodramus caudacutus in many respects, and inhabiting 
similar resorts in the interior. Nest and eggs still unknown. 
AMMO’/DRAMUS. (Gr. dupos, ammos, sand; dpapeiv, dramein, to run.) SEA-SIDE SPAR- 
rows. Bill remarkably slender and lengthened for this family, with culmen decurved toward 
end, gonys straight, and sometimes an 
evident lobation of the cutting edge of 
the upper mandible. Wings short and 
rounded, yet longer than tail ; inner sec- 
ondaries, though not elongate, reaching 
nearly to end of primaries when wing 
is closed ; point formed by 2d-4th quills. 
Feet large and stout, reaching out- 
stretched about to end of tail; tarsus 
about equal to middle toe and claw in 
length ; lateral toes of equal lengths, 
very short, their claws underreaching 
base of middle claw. , Tail shorter or 
not longer than wings, much rounded, 
of narrow, stiffish, sharp-pointed feath- 
ers. Embracing small streaky marsh 
sparrows, especially of the sea-coast, 
but not exclusively maritime, as long Fie. 230 — Generic details of Ammodramus (A. caudacutus), 
supposed; remarkable for slenderness ™* 2°. (Ad. nat. del. F.C.) 
of the bill, sharp narrow tail-feathers, and stout feet fitted for grasping slender swaying reeds. 
Edge of wing bright yellow; a yellow spot or buff stripe on head; upper parts olive-gray or 
quite blackish, streaky. 
Analysis of Species. 
Loral spot und edge of wing bright yellow. 
Upper parts olive-gray obscurely streaked 
ve-gray obscurely streaked =» ee ew ee eee + + . maritimus 238 
Upper parts quite blackish . © 1 2. 0 fw we ee ee te le eo nigrescens 239 
Along buff superciliary stripe . 2. 2... . we ee ke caudacutus 240-241 
A. mari/timus. (Lat. maritimus, maritime, coast-wise; mare, the sea. Fig. 230.) SEA-sIDE 
Fixcu. Olive-gray, obscurely streaked on back and crown with darker and paler; below, whit- 
ish, often washed with brownish, shaded on sides with color of back, and with ill-defined dark 
