144 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



and I climbed the stone-wall and walked through the high grass in the direction 

 of the sound which soon ceased. I went back to the road as I feared I might 

 lose my train, but was again enticed to return by the sound. This time I walked 

 straight to the spot and succeeded in flushing the bird which flew up from under 

 my feet, alighted on a dead weed-stalk within a few yards of me, and continued 

 to sing. 



231 [549] Passerherbulus caudacutus (Gmel.). 



Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 

 Common summer resident locally. May 24 to November 8. 

 Eggs: June 8 to July 12. 



^Z^ [549-1] Passerherbulus nelsoni nelsoni (Allen). 

 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 



Rare transient visitor, exceptionally rare in the spring. September 25 to 

 October 13. 



Two sharp-tails which I believe to be of this species I found fluttering against 

 the window in a boat-house on the marsh at Ipswich on October 8, 1905. I was 

 struck with their small size, dark brown backs and breasts and very faint stripes. 



233 [S49-ia] Passerherbulus nelsoni subvirgatus (Dwight). 



Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 



Common transient visitor. May 23 to June 1 1 ; September 2 to November 5. 



I have not seen this species give a flight song in Essex County, but observed 

 it on the breeding-grounds in New Brunswick. The bird rises on fluttering 

 wings to a height sometimes of forty feet, and gushes forth its oozy song several 

 times in the descent and continues it from its perch on the grass. On one occa- 

 sion the bird uttered repeatedly short clear notes which I wrote down wt wt on 

 the ascent, but he gave the regular song on the downward plunge. 



234 [550] Passerherbulus maritimus maritimus (Wils.). 



Seaside Sparrow. 

 Accidental visitor from the South. 

 The record of 1877 remains unique. 



