Q 



84 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Immature birds of both sexes hardly differ from each other, except that the 

 young males soon show slight traces of the rosy, which the young females en- 

 tirely want. The young of both sexes may, however, be readily recognized 

 by the presence of a general yellowish or buffy suffusion, especially about the 

 head and neck, more or less conspicuous. This is sometimes so marked in 

 character as to cause the bird to be streaked above with dusky and reddish 

 broivn, and to have the sides of the head and neck, the breast and the sides of 

 the body yellowish brown. The lateral streaks are more indistinctly defined, 

 having borders of the prevailing reddish, which fades insensibly into white. 

 The white edgings of the wings and tail partake of the general buff tinge. At 

 this age also the crimson of the crown is restricted to scarcely more than a 

 frontal patch, and has often a coppery or brazen rather than a deep crimson 

 color. 



Accidental variations. Although this species in common with others of the 

 genus, varies somewhat in size and proportions, in addition to the sexual and 

 seasonal changes to which it is subject, the variations are within narrow 

 limits, and the species readily recognizable through all of them. In a very 

 large series (over fifty in number) from Europe and various localities in North 

 America, the greatest difference in length is hardly over one-third of an inch. 

 The difference in length of wing is about -25 of an inch. The feet do not dif- 

 fer appreciably in length or stoutness, though the claws vary somewhat in 

 length and amount of curvature. The bill is usually very constant, preserving 

 its attenuation and acuteness. Its color, however, differs ; sometimes the up- 

 per mandible, more rarely the greater part of the lower, are dusky ; and on 

 the other hand, the usual gamboge yellow is so bright as to become chrome. 

 The proportions of the quills vary considerably. Usually the second is long- 

 est, the first and third equal and nearly equalling the second ; the fourth a 

 little, and the fifth considerably shorter. Sometimes the first three are about 

 equal ; sometimes the first is absolutely longest : and, again, the fourth is so 

 long, or the first so short, as to cause them to become equal. The variations 

 in plumage, other than those of sex and age, already adverted to, are unim- 

 portant. The rump is, in all ages and seasons, conspicuously streaked. 



Comparison uith allied species. The present species having been taken at the 

 standard of comparison, the differences between it and other species will be 

 found detailed under their respective headings. 



In a critical and extended examination and comparison of an extensive- 

 series of specimens from both continents, I have been unable to detect any 

 characters by which to separate the American and European birds. They 

 appear to be absolutely identical. 



Discussion of synonymy. Although this species has a large number of syno- 

 nyms, these arise chiefly from the numerous genera to which it has been re- 

 ferred. The only points which need discussion here are the following : 



The Fringilla borealis Vieill. (not of Temminck,) is certainly the present spe- 

 cies, although Temminck places it as a synonym of his F. borealis, which is Lina- 

 ria canescens Gould. No description accompanies the Linota borealis of Bona- 

 parte's " Index Europearum Avium." That author quotes Fringilla linaria 

 Ray, and Fring. borealis Vieill., which would cause his Linota borealis to be- 

 come a synonym of the present species ; but, if so, he is in error in adding 

 Linaria canescens Gould. It is most probable, however, that he was at that 

 time indisposed to admit the latter as a distinct species. The identification of 

 his Linota borealis with the present species is, moreover, rendered necessary by 

 the synonyms adduced to his Linota linaria. [Linaria rubra Gesn., and L. rufes- 

 eens Vieill.) causing the latter to refer to the smaller species, as a synonym of 

 which Bonaparte himself, in his Conspectus, considers it. 



The Linaria minor Ray, of Swainson's Fauna Boreali-Americana, is the true 

 A. Unarms of North America. L. minor Ray, of Gould's Birds of Europe, is 

 considered by Bonaparte and Schlegel as referring to the A. rufescens. With- 



[N 



ov. 



