68 
SEA- SIDE FINCH. 
in New Jersey, in the month of November, and, on dissection, 
was found to be a female. Turton describes a species called 
the white-fronted Owl ( S . albifrons,) which, in every thing 
except the size, agrees with this bird, and has, very 
probably, been taken from a young male, which is sometimes 
found considerably less than the female. 
SEA-SIDE FINCH — FRINGILLA MARITIMA. 
Plate XXXIV. Fig. 2. 
AMMODRAMUS MARITIMUS. — Swainson.* 
Ammodramus, Swain. Zool. Journ. No. 11, p. 348. — Fringilla maritima, Bonap . 
Synop. p. 110. — The Sea-side Finch, Aud. Orn. Biog. i. p. 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, wdiere 
I first found it; keeping almost continually within the 
boundaries of tide water, except when long and violent east 
* The Sea-side and Short-tailed Finches constitute the genus Ammodramus 
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 themselves 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. 
