A MM ODR OM US MEL AN OLE UC US. 
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GENUS XVI. AMMODROMUS. THE SHORE FINCHES. 
Gen. Cn. Bill, quite slender, not thick nor swollen at base. Upper mandible, somewhat curved. Wings, longer than 
the tail which is considerably rounded, and with the feathers acuminate. Sternum, not stout, with the coracoids equal in 
length to the top of the keel, or a little shorter. Keel, low, either not exceeding in height one third the length of the coracoids 
or but little higher. Size, small. 
The sternums of this genus vary considerably, in fact more so than is usual in species which are so closely allied. In 
other anatomical structures, however, there is but little difference and the more important external characters are also quite 
similar. The edge of the wing is yellow. 
AMMODROMUS MELANOLEUCUS. 
Black and White Shore Finch. 
Ammodromus melanoleucus Maynard, Rod and Gun, Jan. 16, 1875. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Plate V. Adult in spring. 
Sp. Ch. Form, slender. Size, small. Tongue, long, thin and horny, provided with a bifid, terminal tuft of hair-like 
fiber's. Sternum, not stout, with the keel very low, not exceeding in height one third of the length of the coracoids which 
equal in length the top of the keel. 
Color. Adult. Above, black, with the feathers narrowly.edged with ashy. Wings, and tail very dark-brown with 
the outer webs margined with greenish. Beneath, white, broadly streaked everywhere, excepting on the abdomen, with 
black. Line extending from upper mandible to point over the eye, and edge of wing, bright-yellow. Bill, black, bluish 
at base of lower mandible. Feet, brown. 
Young. Similar, but tinged with yellowish-rufous on the breast, sides of head, and flanks. The outer edges of the 
wing feathers are aLso brownish. Sexes, similar in all stagas. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
There is a general uniformity of coloration in specimens of the same age, but the streakings are broader on some than 
on others, when there is frequently a central clastering of spots on the breast, and sometimes there are white maxillary 
lines. Readily distinguished from all others by the preponderance of black below. The distribution of this species is 
very limited as thus far observed, and none have been taken, to my knowledge, since 1872 when I found them on the saline 
savannahs about Salt Lake and on the marshes east of Indian River, but south of the Haulover Canal. They are migratory 
but I do not know where they spend the winter. The nests and eggs are unknown. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of eight specimens. Length, 6*95; stretch, 7*87; wing, 2*32; tail, 2'04; bill, *50; tarsus, '78. 
Longest specimen, 6'25; greatest extent of wing, 8'25; longest wing, 2*50; tail, 2'25; bill, '60; tarsus, *80. Shortest speci¬ 
men, 5*75; smallest extent of wing, 7'50; shortest wing, 2'15; tail, 2'25; bill, '40; tarsus, '77. 
HABITS. 
Near the sources of the St. Johns River in Florida is a little body of water, only about 
two miles in circumference, called Salt Lake and, as its name implies, is quite brackish. 
This phenomenon is due, not to its present proximity to the sea which is only six miles dis¬ 
tant, for a ridge of high pine lands intervenes, but to the • peculiar character of the soil 
which contains a large quantity of salt. There is hut little doubt that this entire section 
was overflowed by the tides of the ocean not long since. In fact the vegetation which cov¬ 
ers these wide-spread plains is almost exactly like that which grows on the marshes of the 
Indian River. It is composed mainly of course grass and a species of rush, both of which 
grow to the height of four or five feet, and so thickly together that one can scarcely make 
his way through them. The margin of the lake is, however, destitute of vegetation as 
are the beds of numerous small creeks which in the spring and summer are dry, and thus 
form convenient roads. 
