FRINGILLID.E — THE FIXCHKS. 4<J|J 



Sp. Ciiak. Autumnal female. Greenland race (canescena). (2^,377, Greenland, Univ. 

 Zoiil. Mils. Copenhagen.) In general appearance like the corresponding plumage of .^. 

 linarius, but the whole rump immaculate white ; frontal band more than twice as wide as 

 in linariiis, and better defined ; lower tail-covert.s without streak.?, their shafts even being 

 white. Carmine vertical patch only a little wider than the whitish frontal patch ; head 

 with a strong ochraceous suffusion. Wing, 3.30; tail, 2.90 ; bill, .35 and 30; tarsus, .(iO ; 

 middle toe, .32. Wing-formula, 1, 2, and 3. 



Hab. Greenland. Variations with season probably as in smaller Continental race. 



Adult of both sexes in spriiir/. Continental race (exilipes). As described for the Green- 

 land form, but without the ochraceous suffusion. Sides very sparsely streaked. 



Male in sjiring. Breast only tinged with delicate peach-blossom-pink, this extending 

 farther back medially than laterally, — just the reverse of jE. Unarms ; a very faint tinge 

 of the same in the white of the rump. Measurements (No. 19,686, Fort Simpson, April 

 30, 1860 ; B. R. Ross, Couks's type) : Wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2 55 ; bill, .29 and .25 ; tarsus, .52 ; 

 middle toe, .30 ; wing-formula, 2, 1, 3, 4. 



Female in spring. Similar, but lacking all red except that of the pileum, which is less 

 intense, though not more restricted, than in the male. Measurements (No. 19,700, Fort 

 Simpson, April 28; B. R. Ross): Wing, 2.80; tail, 2.35 ; bill, .25 and .22; tarsus, .51; 

 middle toe, .30. 



Both sexes in autumn. (J. Fort Rae.) The white of the whole plumage, except on the 

 rump, overspread by a wash of pale ochraceous, this deepest anteriorly ; on the anterior 

 upper parts a deep tint of ochraceous entirely replacing the white ; wing-markings broader 

 and more ochraceous than in the spring plumage. Wing, 2.85 ; tail, 2.50 ; bill, .30 and .25 ; 

 tarsus, .51 ; middle toe, .30. 



Hab. Continental arctic America. In winter south into the United States (as far as 

 Mount Carroll, Illinois). 



Though ^'E. rancsrrns is nearly identical with ^E. linrirws in size, these two 

 species may always be distinguished I'roni each other liy certain well-marked 

 and constant diflerences iu coloration ; the principal of these have been men- 

 tioned in the .synoptical table, but a few other points may be noted here. In 

 spring males of canrsccns the delicate rosaceons-pink of the breast does not 

 extend np on to the cheeks, and backward it extends farther medially than 

 laterally, scarcely tingeiug the sides at all ; while in ^E. linariiis the intensely 

 rosaceous, almost carmine, tint covers the cheeks, and extends backward 

 much farther laterally tlian medially, covering nearly the whole sides. 



Though the weakness, or shortness, of the toes compared with the tarsus, 

 is a feature distinguishing, upon almost microscopical comparison, the yE. ca- 

 ncsccns in its two races from the races of ^. linarius, it will not liy any means 

 serve to distingnisli ca-nescens and exilipes, since, as will be seen by tlie meas- 

 urements given, the proportion of the toes to the tarsus is a specific, and not 

 a race, character. (Ridgw.w.) 



H.A-BITS. The history of the Mealy Eed-PoU can only be presented ^\■it]l 

 some doubts and uncertainties. We cannot always determine how far the 

 accounts given by others may have Itelonged to this species, and we can only 

 accept, -ttith some reserve, their statements. 



This form, whether species or race, is known to inhabit Greenland, where, 

 according to Dr. Eeinhardt, it is constantly resident, and I have received its 



