1874.1 293 [Allen. 



this species has been obtained in considerable numbers, by 

 Mr. Edward W. Nelson, and others. 



This specimen differs very markedly from specimens of the same 

 species taken at the same season in the Charles River marshes, in 

 Cambridge, presenting strongly all the features of a southern race. 

 The size is smaller, with a longer and slenderer bill ; the dark cen- 

 ters of the feathers of the breast and sides are stronger and more 

 sharply denned, and the brown markings on the scapulars and wing 

 coverts much brighter and stronger. The top of the head is very 

 dark brown, approaching black, with a faint slaty median line ; the 

 buff of the superciliary line, breast and sides, is very much stronger, 

 and the white of the abdomen purer ; all the colors being in fact 

 much stronger. 



Mr. Allen read extracts from letters from Mr. Nelson, to whose 

 kindness he was indebted for the specimen, in which, under date of 

 Oct. 19, 1874, Mr. Nelson speaks of the bird as follows: "While 

 collecting birds on the Calumet Marshes at Ainsworth, 111., Sept. 1 7, 

 1874, I noticed a number of small sparrows in the tall grass along 

 the Calumet River. At first I thought they were Swamp Sparrows ; 

 observing a difference I shot one and at once recognizing it, I went 

 in search of more. Within an hour I had killed eight fine specimens. 

 They were very abundant, as I must have seen over one hundred in 

 walking about a mile and a half. They were very difficult to kill, 

 owing to their habit of rising suddenly, darting off in an irregular 

 manner for a few rods, and then dropping into the grass and lying so 



close that it was almost impossible to put them up again Dr. 



Velie, while collecting near Ainsworth, Oct. 7, also shot several speci- 

 mens of the Sharp-tailed Finch, about the sloughs which are found 

 abundantly in this locality." They thus agree in habits with the 

 eastern bird. 



Mr. Allen stated that, in answer to inquiries, Mr. Nelson informed 

 him that the specimen sent him was an average specimen of his 

 series, and that the differences between the Calumet birds and a 

 Massachusetts specimen (an average of a considerable series) sent 

 him by Mr. Allen were constant. In view of the marked differences 

 between the two forms, Mr. Allen proposed for the Calumet form 

 the varietal name of Nclsoni (Ammodromus caudacutus var. Nehoni). 



The birds of this genus have hitherto been considered as strictly 

 maritime, as much so as any of the Grallas. The occurrence of rep- 



