SEASIDE FINCH. 69 



SEA-SIDE FINCH. {Fringilla maritima.) 



PLATE XXXIV. Fig. 2. 



AM M ODRAM US MARITIMUS. —Swainson. * 



Ammodramus, Swain. Zool. Journ. No. 11. p. 348. — Fringilla maritima, Bonap. 

 Synop. p. 110. — The Sea-side Finch, Aud. Om. Biog. i. \>. 470, pi. 93, male and 

 female. 



Of this bird I can find no description. It inhabits the low 

 rush-covered sea islands along our Atlantic coast, where I first 

 found it ; keeping almost continually within the boundaries 

 of tide water, except when long and violent east or north- 

 easterly storms, with high tides, compel it to seek the shore. 

 On these occasions it courses along the margin, and among 

 the holes and interstices of the weeds and sea-wrack, with a 

 rapidity equalled only by the nimblest of our sandpipers, and 

 very much in their manner. At these times also it roosts on 

 the ground, and runs about after dusk. 



* The sea-side and short-tailed finches constitute the genus Ammo- 

 dramus of Swainson. The former was discovered by Wilson ; the latter 

 is the sharp-tailed oriole of Latham. They are both peculiar to North 

 America, and are nearly confined to the salt marshes on the coast. They 

 are very curious in their structure, combining, as remarked by our 

 author, properties for either running or climbing. The tail is truly 

 scansorial ; the feet partly so ; the hallux formed for running, having 

 the claw elongated, and of a flat bend, as among the larks. 



Mr Audubon has figured this bird with the nest. He says it is placed 

 so near the ground, that one might suppose it sunk into it, although this 

 is not actually the case. It is composed externally of coarse grass, and 

 is lined with finer kinds, but exhibits little regularity. The eggs are 

 from four to six, elongated, grayish white, freckled with brown all over. 

 They build in elevated shrubby places, where many nests may be found 

 in the space of an acre. When the young are grown, they betake them- 

 selves to the ditches and sluices which intersect the salt marshes, and 

 find abundant food. They enter the larger holes of crabs, and every 

 crack and crevice of the drying mud. In this they much resemble the 

 wrens, who enjoy entering and prying into every chink or opening of 

 their own haunts. Mr Audubon had some dressed in a pie, but found 

 them quite unpalatable. —Ed. 



