103 



Genus V.— AMMODRAMUS, Swains. SHORE-FINCH. 



Bill rather long, being little shorter than the head, rather slender, straight, 

 considerably compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line con- 

 siderably convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex, the edges inflected, 

 with a slight festoon about the middle, and a faint notch, close to the tip, 

 which is deflected and acute; lower mandible with the angle short and 

 rounded, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the ridge rounded, the sides 

 convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils small, elliptical, basal, 

 partially concealed by the plumage. Head ovate; neck short; body slender. 

 Tarsus rather short, stoutish, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather 

 long, hind toe large, outer shorter than inner, and adherent at the base. 

 Claws long, slender, little arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, 

 tapering to a fine point. Plumage soft and blended, with the filaments 

 stiffish and disunited. No bristles. Wings short, convex, rounded, the 

 second, third, and fourth quills longest, the first considerably shorter. Tail 

 of moderate length, graduated, slender, of twelve narrow, acuminate feathers. 

 No difference in the colours of the sexes. 



SEA-SIDE FINCH. 



Ammodramus maritimus, Wils. 



PLATE CLXXII.— Male and Female. 



The monotonous chirpings which one hears in almost every part of our 

 maritime salt-marshes, are produced by this bird and another nearly allied 

 to it. The Sea-side Finch may be seen at any hour of the day, during the 

 months of May and June, mounted on the tops of the rankest weeds which 

 grow by the margins of tide-waters along the greater portion of our Atlantic 



