It forms, in some degree, a passage from the shining coloured Nectarini� of America, to the short-billed Melliphag� of the southern hemisphere.

In such meadows the short-billed marsh wren, a slightly smaller sprite, prefers to live.

The Short-billed or American Mew Gull is seventeen inches in length, has a short, stout bill and is otherwise similar to the preceding species.