ARCTIC GROUND-FIXCH. 589 



BLACK-FINCH, or SNOW-BIRD. 



(Fringilla hiemalis, Linn. F. nivalis, Wilson. Nutt. Man. Orn. i. 



p. 491.) 



This species is merely a summer resident in the fur coun- 

 tries, and is not common, nor is it seen apparently beyond 

 the 57th parallel. Though their autumnal note is generally 

 but a chirp, we now and then hear an interrupted warble 

 from the young birds, commonly at the instant of contend- 

 ing with each other, or immediately after. 



ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 



(Fringilla arctica, Nobis. Pyrgita (Pipilo) arctica, Swains. North. 

 Zool. ii. p. 260. pi. 51. [male.] pL 52, [female].) 



Sp. Charact. — With the head, neck, and upper plumage blackish 

 (in the female ferruginous-brown ;) back, scapulars, and wing cov- 

 erts striped with white ; 1st and 8th quills nearly equal in length. 



This handsome Ground-Finch was observed only on the 

 plains of the Saskatchewan, where it no doubt breeds, as 

 one specimen was killed late in July. It arrives about the 

 close of May, and frequents shady and moist woods, where 

 it is generally seen on the ground. Its habits, in short, cor- 

 respond with those of the Towhe Bunting, which it so much 

 resembles in external appearance. It feeds much on larvae, 

 and is a solitary and retired, but not a distrustful bird. 



The length about 8 inches 9 lines ; the tail 4 inches ; the folded 

 wing 3^ inches ; the bill above about ^ an inch ; the tarsus 1 inch 1 

 line. The head, neck, above and below, scapulars, interscapulars, all 

 the wing coverts, and tail, pitch-black ; some of the breast feathers 

 fringed with white. A pure white stripe, half the breadth of the 

 web, on the outer edge of each of the scapulars and interscapulars, and 

 the greater and lesser coverts tipped with the same. The 3 exterior 

 50 



