346 
SINGING BIRDS. 
NELSON’S SPARROW. 
AMMODR'iMUS CAUDACUTUS NELSONI. 
Char. Differs from the type by the colors of the back being very 
sharply defined, the white a clearer shade, and the brown a richer and 
more decided umber ; chest and sides deep buff. Size larger than true 
caudacutus. 
Nest and Eggs similar to cmidacutus. 
Nelson’s Sharp-tail was described by Mr. J. A. Allen in 1875. 
It is found in summer on the marshes of the Mississippi valley, 
and in winter on the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts (sparingly) 
to North Carolina, and possibly to the Gulf States. 
SEASIDE SPARROW. 
SE.ASIDE FINCH. 
AmMODRAMUS MARITIMUS. 
Char. Above, dull olive brown, back and head with indistinct streaks 
of ashy ; superciliary line and edge of wing yellow ; below, dull white, the 
breast and sides with dark streaks. Length about 6 inches. 
Nest. Hidden amid a tuft of grass or coarse sedges in a salt marsh or 
wet meadow ; sometimes placed on the ground, often a few inches above 
it ; composed of dry grass. 
Eggs. 4-6 ; dull white with green or buff tint, spotted with brown ; 
0.80 X 0.60. 
This species is not uncommon in the maritime marshy 
grounds and in the sea islands along the Atlantic coast from 
Massachusetts to the Southern States. It confines its excur- 
sions almost wholly within the bounds of the tide-water, leav- 
ing its favorite retreats for more inland situations only after 
the prevalence of violent easterly storms. In quest of marine 
insects, cnistacea, shrimps, and minute shell-fish, it courses 
along the borders of the strand with all the nimbleness of a 
Sandpiper, examining the sea-weeds and other exuviae for its 
fare ; it seeks out its prey also at dusk, as well as at other 
times, and usually roosts on the ground like a Lark. In short, 
it derives its whole subsistence from the margin of the ocean. 
