_Emberiza rostrata_, CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. VI, 1852, 348. _Ammodramus
rostratus_, CASSIN, Ill. I, 1855, 226, pl. xxxviii. _Passerculus
rostratus_, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 446.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1,
1870, 184.
SP. CHAR. Bill very long (.55 of an inch above). Whole upper parts and
sides of head and neck pale brownish-gray (almost fulvous), nearly
every feather with a darker central blotch, darkest along the shaft. A
scarcely appreciable central stripe in the crown, an obscure
yellowish-white superciliary, and a whitish maxillary one. Under parts
pure white; streaked on the breast and the sides of throat and body
with dark brown (the streak paler externally). Under tail-coverts
unspotted white. Tail and wing feathers and wings margined with the
color of the back; the edges of tertiaries rather paler. Length, 5.30;
wing, 2.90; tail, 2.30.
HAB. Coast of California, south to Cape St. Lucas; mouth of Colorado
River (DR. PALMER).
The bill of this species is very long and conical, the cutting edge
nearly straight. The wings are rather long, the tertiaries nearly as
long in the closed wing as the primaries; the second, third, and
fourth quills longest, the first rather longer than the fifth. The
tail is short and emarginate, the feathers narrow, acute, and
moderately stiff. The tarsi are long; the claws little curved.
This species resembles the _Passerculus savanna_ rather more than any
of the other sparrows with spotted breasts; the bill is, however, very
much longer and larger, exceeding any of our American species of its
size, the upper outline more convex. Its colors are much paler, and it
lacks the yellow on the head and wing. The much shorter tail and
entire absence of rufous distinguish it from the spotted _Melospizas_.
In shape the bill is like that of _Ammodromus caudacutus_, but it is
larger; the head lacks the yellow, etc.
In some specimens the streaks on the back are almost obsolete.
HABITS. So far as is known, this bird seems to have a somewhat
restricted habitat, being apparently confined to the sea-coast of
Southern California. There it was first met with by Dr. Heermann, in
the neighborhood of San Diego, and was described by Mr. Cassin as an
_Ammodromus_, with which genus of birds it seemed to have many
peculiarities in common. Dr. Heermann first met with this bird in
1851, on the shores of the bay of San Diego, in company with other
species, apparently in search of grass-seed. Afterwards, in the
Pacific Railroad Survey, with Lieutenant Williamson, he again met with
these birds in considerable numbers at Santa Barbara and San Pedro. In
all the places in which he met with it he found it frequenting low
sandy beaches, and the heavy sedge-grass which abounds on the shores.
On the former it seemed to be feeding on marine insects and seeds
thrown up by the tide, and in the latter to find places for easy and
immediate concealment when alarmed or pursued. Naturally it appeared
to be a quiet and unsuspicious bird. He heard it utter no other note
than a short sharp chirp.
Dr. Cooper thinks this species has a much greater affinity to the
_Ammodrami_ than to the _Passerculi_, both in its bill and claws, as
well as in its habits. He found them very abundant, both at San Pedro
and San Diego, at all seasons, and he does not think that they migrate
at all from those localities. He found them frequenting the shores of
the bays and the sea-beaches. They also came confidently and
familiarly about the buildings near the water, feeding on any seeds or
insects they could find. On the beach they run along the sand, in the
rows of drifted sea-weeds, seeking their food, and rarely take to
flight unless surprised, and then only fly a short distance. Dr.
Cooper has never known them to alight on any bush, nor does he think
that they have any song. The only note he has ever heard them utter is
a short chirp. At San Pedro he saw them, in July, feeding their young,
but he has never found a nest that he was certain belonged to this
species.
Dr. Coues found this bird abundant in Southern California, where it
kept among the thick weeds of the dry plain, and was much on the
ground, where it ran as easily as a _Pipilo_, often flying up into the
bushes and resting there quietly. They were to be seen also in great
numbers sunning themselves and catching flies on the piles of lumber
on the wharf, so tame as to be almost liable to be struck by a cane.
It is a winter resident at Cape St. Lucas, where Mr. Xantus found them
abundant. They were not seen there in summer, though it is probable
they reside on the shores in its neighborhood. Their nest and eggs
remain unknown.
Passerculus rostratus, var. guttatus, LAWR.