SEA-SIDE FINCH. 
261 
Essential particulars, I would be disposed to consider 
as the same in a different state of plumage. They 
^e much less numerous than the preceding, and do not 
''Un with equal celerity. 
The sharp-tailed finch is live inches and a quarter 
®1g, and seven inches and a quarter in extent; bill, 
®UsUy ; auriculars, ash ; from the hill over tlie eye, and 
^'so below it, run two broad stripes of brownish orange ; 
*hin, whitish ; breast, pale buff, marked with small 
{“ointed spots of black ; belly, white ; vent, reddish 
“Uff; from the base of the ujiper mandible a broad 
?^''ipe of pale ash runs along the crown and hind head, 
“'ordered on each side by one of blackish brown ; back, 
’‘yellowish brown olive, some of the feathers enriously 
J'ifjcd with semicircles of white; sides under the wings, 
Sff, spotted with black; wing-coverts and tertials, 
“Wk, broadly edged with light reddish buff; tail, 
'“'tielform, short ; all the feathers sharp pointed ; belly, 
.\'dte; vent, dark buff; logs, a yellow clay colour; 
'*^des, hazel. 
.. I examined many of these birds, and found but little 
’’‘tterence in the colour and markings of their plumage. 
174 . FHIA'OILLA UASITIMJ, WIISON SEA-SIDE FINCH. 
WIISON, riATE XXXIV. FIG. II. 
,, this bird I can find no description. It inhabits 
low, rush-covered sea islands along our Atlantic 
where I first found it ; keeping almost continually 
''‘thin the boundaries of fide water, except when long 
J?*! violent east or northeasterly storms, with high 
compel it to seek the shore. Oii these occasions 
• Courses aloim- the margin, and among the holes and 
'“terstices of the weeds and sea-wrack, with a rapidity 
*’lt'alled only by the nimblest of our sandpiiiers, and 
much in their manner. At these times also it 
"csts on the ground, and runs about after dusk. 
This species derives its whole subsistence from the 
I examined a great number of individuals by dis- 
**ction, and found their stomachs universally filled with 
