MACGILLIVRAY'S SHORE-FINCH. 107 



another on wing, but usually abandons the chase before the conquered bird has 

 alighted, leaving it to pursue its course as it pleases after it has been driven 

 beyond the assailant's jurisdiction. The notes of this species are few and 

 unmusical, consisting of a sort of roll of five or six syllables, which it seems to 

 me impossible to imitate. They are usually heard early in the morning. My 

 friend Dr. Bachman informs me that none of these Finches remain in South 

 Carolina during winter, and that they generally disappear early in November, 

 when the weather is still very pleasant in the maritime portions of that 

 state. Many, however, spend the winter in the salt marshes about the 

 mouths of the Mississippi, and I have no doubt that they are constant resi- 

 dents there, as they are in the Texas. 



Abundant in Texas and along the Gulf of Mexico. Rather rare in South 

 Carolina, from which it migrates in autumn. 



Macgillivray's Finch, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 285; vol. iv. p. 394; vol. v. p. 499. 



Bill dusky brown above, the sides of the upper mandible paler, the lower 

 mandible bluish-grey. Iris hazel. Feet dark brown. The colouring is 

 similar to that of Jl. maritimus in the upper parts, and to that of A. cauda- 

 cutus in the lower, but is darker above than the former, and duller beneath 

 than the latter. Feathers of the head brownish-black, margined with dull 

 greyish-brown, but not grey in the middle nor darker towards the sides, as 

 in the other species. Hind neck and back of the same colour, the middle 

 of the latter having some of the margins pale reddish-brown. Primary 

 quills hair-brown; secondary dark brown, edged with reddish-brown; the 

 secondary and smaller coverts like the latter; the edge of the wing white, 

 slightly tinged with yellow. Tail-feathers hair-brown at the edges, the 

 centre blackish-brown, except the lateral, which are plain, but scarcely paler. 

 A yellowish-brown streak from the nostrils over the eye. Throat and fore 

 neck greyish-white, with an indistinct dusky streak on each side. Breast 

 and sides pale dull yellowish-brown, marked with brownish-black streaks. 

 The middle of the breast and the abdomen greyish-white, tinged with 

 yellowish-brown. 



Length 5J inches, extent of wings 7|; bill along the back \\ , along the 

 ed § e -hi tarsus {%. 



