NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 221 



Ekemophila cornuta Boie. Horned Lark. "Skylark." 



Alauda alpestris, Aud. Birds Amer. iii. 44 ; pi. 151. 

 Eremophila cornnta, Baird, Gen. Kep. 402. 



Very abundant on all the barren moss-covered islands along the coast, and 

 in every suitable situation on the main land. Labrador, indeed, from the 

 fact that it is the most southern region which affords the peculiar open and 

 exposed situations which these birds exclusively frequent, seems to be their 

 special breeding ground. In their voice, flight, and general manners I noticed 

 nothing different from their usual habits, well known during their extensive 

 southern migration, except that they of course do not associate in flocks dur- 

 ing the breeding season. To the natives they are known by their usual 

 name of " Sky-larks." 



Pinicola canadensis (Briss.) Cab. Pine Grosbeak. " Mope," "Redbird." 



Corythus enucleator, Aud. Birds Amer. iii. 179 ; pi. 199. 

 Pinicola canadensis, Baird, Gen. Rep. 410. 



The Pine Grosbeak I ascertained to be not at all rare along the coast of 

 Labrador, where I obtained several specimens ; and it is probably still more 

 abundant in the interior. It is confined entirely to the thick woods and 

 patches of scrubby juniper. It is not at all shy, rather evincing a heedless- 

 ness of the presence of man, that must arise from the fact that it is so seldom 

 molested ; still from the dense nature of the firs it inhabits, it is rather diffi- 

 cult to procure. The female of a pair I obtained sat unconcernedly on a twig 

 only a few paces distant, while I reloaded after shooting her mate ; uttering 

 continually a low soft " shep," almost exactly like that of the common Fox 

 Sparrow, Passerella iliaca. Another note- which I occasionally heard was a 

 prolonged whirring chirrup, uttered in a rather low tone, which appeared to be 

 the usual note of recognition between the male and female. This bird is com- 

 monly known to the natives by the singular appellation of "Mope;" the 

 derivation of which word I could not ascertain. It is also sometimes called 

 the " Red-bird ;'' and it has in addition an Esquimaux name, which, however, 

 I do not venture to attempt. 



Aegiothus Cabanis. 



Syn. Acantkis, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 540. Nee Bechst. 1802 ; nee Keys, et 



Bias. 1840. 

 Aegiothus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 161. Typus Fring. linaria L. Baird, 

 Gen. Rep. 1858. 



Gen. Ch. Size small. Crown with a crimson patch ; the breast and rump 

 tinged with rosy in the male. Bill short, rather slender, conical, and acutely 

 pointed, the lateral outlines concave ; culmen, gonys and commissure about 

 straight. Upper mandible with several obsolete ridges parallel with the cul- 

 men. Base of upper mandible covered with rigid, appressed, bristly plumuli, 

 concealing the nostrils. Wings very long, reaching beyond the middle of the 

 tail ; first, second, and third primaries nearly equal, second usually a little the 

 longest. Feet short, weak ; tarsus about equal to middle toe and claw. 

 Inner lateral toe rather longer than the outer ; hind toe rather longer than the 

 inner lateral, its claw longer than the digital portion. Tail moderately long, 

 deeply forked ; of twelve feathers. 



A genus of fringilline birds of the sub-family Coccothraustinat Baird, as de- 

 fined by that author, coming between Cannabina Brehm, (Handbuch, 1828, 

 Type F. cannabina Linn.), and Leucosticte, Swainson, (F. B. A. 1831, iii. 265, 

 Type Linaria tephrocotis, Sw.,) though its affinities are clearly with the former 

 genus. The general form, in the long wings, moderately long, forked tail, and 

 very short, weak feet, and to some extent the pattern of coloration, in the 

 conspicuous pileum, gular patch, rosy rump, &c, are very similar. But im- 



1861.] 



