238 Dwight on a New Race of Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 
[July 
VI, 1881, 47). The first record for New Brunswick is made by 
Mr. Chamberlain who, with Messrs. Purdie and Daniel, obtained 
five individuals at Hampton, June 21, 1SS1 {Ibid., VII, 1SS2, 104 
and 122). One of these is now before me, — an undoubted 
subvirgatus. The last record I shall refer to is Mr. Henshaw’s 
(Auk, III, 1SS6, 486) of three specimens of nelsoni taken at 
Cambridge, Mass. That of May 31, I have assigned on a pre- 
vious page to the ranks of subvirgatus ; the other two, which I 
have also examined, were taken October 7, and are undoubted 
nelsoni. Mr. Hensliaw suggests that “those having Sharp- 
tailed Finches in their collections will do well to examine their 
series thoroughly.” This is excellent advice to follow, and I 
earnestly hope that the new subspecies I propose will solve 
difficulties that have heretofore presented themselves. 
The apparent scarcity of spring examples of this new variety 
suggests the idea (probably erroneous) that it follows an inland 
route of migration at this season, especially since its breeding 
haunts are practically fresh water and inland meadows. One 
accustomed to the salt marshes where true caudacutus makes 
its home would never dream of finding its northern representa- 
tive inhabiting fields where the grass is knee deep, and where 
the Bobolink and the Savannah Sparrow find it dry enough to 
make their nests. And yet this is the character of the marshes 
along the Petitcodiac River where I have found the birds in con- 
siderable numbers. The Petitcodiac is one of the rivers empty- 
ing into the Bay of Fundy when the tide is running out. The 
Bay of Fundy appears to empty into these rivers when the tide 
is running in, and long stretches of red mud are rapidly covered 
with the incoming water which, rising forty feet and more, has 
acquired world-wide renown, especially in the geographies. 
The marshes were no doubt overflowed at one time by the tide, 
but are now protected by low dikes, and drained at low tide by 
numerous narrow ditches, so concealed by overhanging grass that 
the unwary collector is liable to disappear when he least expects 
it. The river, more than a mile in width at Hillsborough, is 
bordered by the marshes, which often extend over half a mile 
back from the dikes. In the midst of such surroundings I found 
the New Brunswick Sharp-tails last summer. They were abun- 
dant in certain spots, but not easy to find on account of their 
retiring dispositions. Even their song is inaudible at the dis- 
1SS7.] 
Dwight on a New Race of Sharf -tailed Sparrow. 
3 39 
tance of a few yards, and at its best is suggestive of the bird’s 
being choked in the attempt. It resembles, as nearly as I can 
represent it, lie — se-e-e-e-oop , and the gasping se-e-e-e is usually 
all that is heard unless one is very close to the soloist. It is 
usually delivered from the top of a weed, where, as the bird sits 
crouching, he presents an absurd appearance of ill-concealed 
fright. Sometimes he springs up into the air, particularly 
towards evening, and setting his wings floats down into the grass 
fairly gushing with song — such as it is. This performance may 
be compared with that of A. maritimus , for the songs of the two 
birds are modelled after the same pattern. But I must not take 
up any more space in describing habits that, so far as I have 
observed, are little different from those of true caudacutus. I 
was unable to discover any nests. I think, however, that two 
broods may be reared, as, on my arrival July 15, young were 
already on the wing, and it was almost impossible to find any 
females. I was not on the ground during August, but in 
September the birds were rather scarce. On September 30 
they appeared in numbers, probably from some more northern 
locality, and on October 4 I saw the last of them. 
1 imagine they are found in their present environment because 
no salt marshes happen to be convenient. 1 frequently found 
them along a swampy brook fully a mile from salt water, frater- 
nizing with Swamp Sparrows and Maryland Yellow-throats 
among the alder bushes. The locality on the Kenebecasis River, 
where Mr. Chamberlain obtained his specimens, is of similar 
character, and he informs me that the bird has been taken at 
Sackville, where the marshes are similar to, but much more 
extensive than those of the Petitcodiac. There is every reason to 
suppose that the bird is found in neighboring localities, but at 
present I cannot prove it. If I have been successful in introduc- 
ing to notice a bird that has been fairly in our midst and yet not 
recognized as a stranger, I shall feel that my efforts have not been 
in vain, and I hope that this stranger, now that he presents his 
proper credentials, may not prove an unwelcome guest. 
Auk, 4, July 1887. p. 232' 2 ' " 9 . 
/T</ 
