SHARP-TAILED FINCH. 
123 
Color. Adult in spring. Above, including the outer edges of the tail feathers, and ear coverts, yellowish-rufous, 
with the remainder cf the wings and tail, and top of head streaked with dark brown. Supercilary and maxillary lines, 
space back of ear coverts, and bend across breast, buff. Median line, extending from bill to occiput, ashy. Beneath, 
white, finely streaked on the breast, sides, and flanks with dark-brown, while there is a buffy tinge on the two latter and 
on the under tail coverts; there are also a few dusky streakings below the maxillary lines. Edge of wing, yellow. Bill, 
brown, lighter at base of lower mandible. Feet, brown. 
Adult in winter. Has a greenish tinge to the plumage above, the ashy median line is clearer, the buffy markings on 
the head are yellower and the tinging on the sides and flanks, stronger. The ear coverts are ashy, the feathers of the scap- 
ularies are edged with white and the dark mark markings below are broader. 
Young. Similar to the above, but with a brownish hue on the top of the head which completely obscures the streak¬ 
ings. The dark markings above are not as prominent but the white edgings are broader. The bully tinging beneath 
is more extended and the streakings are not as clear. 
Young of the year. Very nuch tinged with greenish above where the feathers show ashy edgings. The streakings be¬ 
low are nearly obscured, while the buffy tinge is extended over the throat and ear coverts. 
Ncstlinqs. Birds in this stage present quite a singular appearance being buffy above and below, broadly streaked on 
the upper parts with dark-brown and more finely below in a similar manner as the adult. The tail feathers are not nearly 
as accuminate. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The breadth of the streakings below vary with individuals as do also those above, and one specimen has a yellow line 
from base of upper mandible to point over the eye, as in the preceding species. This bird presents a singular variety of 
markings, from the first to the final plumage. As will be seen, the streakings above and below are at first prominent then 
become nearly obsolete, only to come out broad and clear after the next moult, when they gradually narrow down to the 
adult stage. The buff, however, which at first tinges the entire bird, grows gradually less until it only covers restricted 
areas. Readily distinguished from all others by the buff markings as described. Found in summer along the coast from 
Maryland to New Hampshire, and in some of the large marshes of the interior. Winters from the Carolinas to Middle 
Florida and on the Northern portion of the Gulf of Mexico. 
DIMENSIONS. . 
Average measurements of twenty-five specimens. Length, 5 - 50; stretch, 7'70; wing, 2’45; tail, 1-77; bill, "47; tarsus, 
•77. Longest specimen, 5’85; greatest extent of wing, 8* 10; longest wing, 2-76; tail, 2-10; bill, '55; tarsus, '85. Shortest 
specimen, 5‘15; smallest extent of wing, 7'33; shortest wing, 2-15; tail, 1*43; bill, '40; tarsus, ‘70. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground. They are loosely constructed, being composed of grass lined with finer. Dimensions; 
external diameter, 4'00, internal, 3'00. External depth, 2\50, internal, 1'50. 
Eggs, four or five in number, rather elliptical in form, pale-blue in color, spotted and dotted quite finely with rufous. 
Dimensions from '75 x ‘55 to '80 x ’GO. 
HABITS. 
The salt marshes which border the coast of Massachusetts are usually comparatively 
solid or at least firm enough to bear the weight of a man, but some spots are very peculiar 
being composed of soft mud overlaid with sod. Thus these slough, as they are termed, 
are very deceptive, as the surface which looks solid to the eye proves very yielding to the 
feet and the unwary pedestrian finds himself submerged to the armpits in soft slimy ooze, 
the odor of which is only exceeded b3 r its pertinacity in adhering to the clothing. These 
singular places are doubtless the remains of lagoons or small bays, that have been sur¬ 
rounded by the slowly forming marshes which have gradually encroached upon the space 
occupied by the water. Indeed this transformation of water into earth may be plainly 
seen in progress, for some portions are not even covered with vegetation, others merely 
support the sod; while small peninsulas have made out which are firm enough to walk 
upon. These are covered with a species of short, wiry grass that grows very thickly and, 
as it is never cut, the dead growth of previous seasons accumulates, forming a mat. The 
insecurity of the footing prevents cattle or other mammals from wandering on such places 
