PEU CM A MSTIVAL1S. 
125 
the north about the middle of October and enter the marshes of the Carolinas and Georgia 
where they are exceedingly abundant. They are also common in the marshy country just 
north of the St. Johns River, Florida, but are not to be found in any numbers south of 
this point on the east coast. In fact I never saw a single specimen below Mosquito Inlet. 
There were a few, however, about Cedar Keys in company with the Gray Shore Finch, 
but I saw no indications whatever of their breeding, as was the case with the preceding 
species, and I think, beyond a doubt, that they all leave Florida by the middle of April. 
They linger somewhat while on the migration, for they do not reach their breeding grounds 
until late in spring; in fact they are one of the very last among the Sparrows to make their 
appearance. 
GENUS XVII. PEUCAEA. THE GRASS FINCHES. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, slender, but not thick nor swollen at base. Upper mandible, considerably curved. Winys, shorter than 
the tail which is much graduated, and with the feathers narrow but not acuminate. Sternum, stout, with the coracoids about 
equal in length to the top of the keel. Keel, exceeding in heighl one third the length of the coracoids. Feet, small. 
All the species are streaked above but have only a few markings below. The toes are quite short and the feet small. 
The edge of the wing is yellow. 
PEUCJHA AESTIVALIS. 
Pine Wood Pinch. 
Peucaa cestivalis Cabinis, Mus. Hein., 1850, 132. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sr, Ch. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Tongue, thin and horny, provided with a bifid tuft of long, terminal, 
hair-like fibers. Sternum, as given above. 
Color. Adult. Above, including the outer edges of the wings and tail feathers, dark-chestnut, with the feathers ed¬ 
ged with ashy. The back and upper tail coverts are streaked with dark-brown. There is a median line of ashy extending 
from the bill to the occiput. Wings and tail, brown. Under parts, supercilary line, and ring around eye, brownish-yellow, 
clearest on the belly and abdomen, darkest on the breast. Edge of wing, yellow. Bill, brown, very much lighter at base 
of lower mandible. Feet, pale-brown. 
Young. Similar to the adult, but more reddish above where there is less ash$. There are indications of maxillary 
lines of dusky and there are some narrow streakings across the breast where the brownish-yellow tinging is somewhat 
darker Sexes, similar in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Specimens vary greatly in the amount of ashy edging to the feathers above. The females, although quite similar to 
the males, are inclined to be redder above and to have streakings below. Readily distinguished from all others by the 
chestnut markings above combined with the graduated tail and yellow edge of wing. Found in summer through the dry 
piney woods along the coast, from Middle Florida to the Carolinas, and in the interior as far north as Southern Indiana. 
Winters in Florida. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of twenty-five specimens. Length, 5'70; stretch, 7-87; wing, 2-37; tail, 2-44; bill, *50; tarsus, 
•69. Longest specimen, 6*20; greatest extent of wing, 8'20; longest wing, 2\56; tail, 2 - 60; bill, - 55; tarsus, ‘76. Shortest 
specimen, 5’60; smallest extent of wing, 7*75; shortest wing, 2‘25; tail, 2*35; bill, - .45; tarsus, ‘62. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground. They are loosely constructed, being composed of rather coarse 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 oval in form, pure, brilliant white in color. They are, I believe, never snotted. 
Dimensions from '80 x '60 to '81 x ‘63. 
