Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME III.
GENUS V.--AMMODRAMUS, Swains. SHORE-FINCH.
Bill rather long, being little shorter than the head, rather slender,
straight, considerably compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line
considerably convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex, the edges inflected,
with a slight festoon about the middle, and a faint notch, close to the tip,
which is deflected and acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded,
the dorsal line ascending and straight, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the
edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils small, elliptical, basal, partially
concealed by the plumage. Head ovate; neck short; body slender. Tarsus rather
short, stoutish, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather long, hind toe
large, outer shorter than inner, and adherent at the base. Claws long, slender,
little arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point.
Plumage soft and blended, with the filaments stiffish and disunited. No
bristles. Wings short, convex, rounded, the second, third, and fourth quills
longest, the first considerably shorter. Tail of moderate length, graduated,
slender, of twelve narrow, acuminate feathers. No difference in the colours of
the sexes.