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 migrant 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 : u 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 «.] 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 winters in 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). It is rare in Manitoba. Dr. Agersborg states that at 

 Vermillion, Dak., three broods are often raised in a season. 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 Carrael, 

 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. 



