North American Birds Eggs. 



251 



533. Pine Siskin. Spiniis j>inus. 



Range.— Breeds from northern Ignited States northward, in the Alleghanies 

 and in the Rockies south to New ^lexico. Winters throughout the United 

 States. 



Siskins are of the size of the Goldfinch (5 inches longj, and their calls, songs 

 and habits are similar to those of this bird. Their plumage is grayish brown, 

 streaked with dusky and the bases of the wing and tail feathers 

 are yellow. Like the Crossbills, they frequently feed along our 

 northern borders, but very sporadically. Their nests are built 

 on horizontal branches of pines or cedars at any elevation from 

 the ground, being made of grasses and rootlets lined with hair 

 or pine needles, and of rather frail and tiat construction. Their [(jret-nish white! 

 eggs are laid during May or June and are greenish white, specked 

 with reddish brown: size .68 x .48. Data.— Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, June 17, 

 1898. Nest on branch of a spruce, 10 feet from the ground; made of grass, lined 

 with moss and feathers. Collector, L. Dicks, 



534. Snowflal<e, Passerina iiivaU>i. 



Range.— Breeds in the Artie regions, and winters irregularly 

 in large flocks through the United States to Oregon, Kansas, 

 and Georgia. 



These birds are only seen in the United States in large rov- 

 ing flocks, during the winter when they feed on weed seeds on 

 side hills. Their nests are built on the ground, being sunk 

 into the spagnum moss, and made of grasses lined with feath- 

 ers. Their four or five eggs are a light greenish white, spotted 

 and splashed with yellowish brown and lilac. Size .90 x .()5. 



[Greenish white. 



534a. Pribilof Snowflake. Passerina nivalis tuwnsendi. 



Range — Pribilof and Aleutian Islands, Alaska. 



A slightly larger variety which is resident on the islands in its range. Eggs 

 like those of the preceding; laid from May to July. 



535. McKay Snowflake. Passerina hyperboreus. 



Range. — Western Alaska; known to breed on Hall's Island. 



This beautiful species is, in summer, entirely white except for the tips of the 

 primaries and a black spot on end of central tail feathers, thus being very dis- 

 tinct from the preceding, which has the back and the wings to a greater extent 

 black, at this season. Their eggs probably very closely resemble those of the 

 last species. 



536. Lapland Longspun. Calcarius lapponicus. 



Range. — Breeds in northern North America; winters south 

 casually to New York, Ohio and Oregon and occasionally farther. 



These sparrow-like birds are 6.5 inches long and have a black 

 crown, cheeks and throat, antl chestnut band on nape. Like the 

 Snowfiakes they nest on the ground in moss, but the four to six 

 eggs that they lay are grayish, heavily mottled and blotched with 

 chocolate brown; size .80 x .60. 



[(irayish.J 



536a. Alaskan Longspur. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis. 



Range,— Northwest North America, breeding in Alaska; winter south to Ore- 

 gon, This sub-species is like the last but slightly paler. Eggs indistinguish- 

 able. 



^J^ 



