212 LAND BIRDS 



Young: Upper parts bright greenish yellow, tinged with brownish 



yellow ; feathers streaked, except on belly ; wing-bauds and patches 



brown. 

 Geographical Distribution : Northern North America, west to the Pacific, 



south in winter to Gulf States and Mexico. 

 California Breeding Range : In Boreal and Transition zones, along the 



Sierra Nevada forests, south through the San Bernardino mountains ; 



also in Santa Cruz mountains. 

 Breeding Season : May and June. 

 Nest : Usually a rather flat compact structure of fine twigs, pine needles, 



grasses, rootlets, and plant fibres ; lined with fine rootlets and hair ; 



placed generally in pine or cedar trees, from 20 to 35 feet from the 



ground. 

 Eggs: 3 or 4 ; pale greenish blue, spotted with various shades of brown, 



especially at the larger end. Size 0.67 X 0.48. 



High up in the mountains the tramper will find these 

 fascinating^ little birds flitting through the pines, flashing 

 a glint of yellow from wings and tails as they dash from 

 tree to tree. 



Wherever a pine cone offers its seeds, or a clump of 

 weeds hangs full of brown pods, a banquet is spread for 

 the Siskins. With a merry note, strikingly like the 

 " per-chic-o-ree " of the goldfinches, they settle down to 

 the feast, only to rise and fly farther on as the whim 

 seizes them. The flight also is of the graceful, undulat- 

 ing character, as the flight of the goldfinch, as if the 

 birds were playing with the air rather than trying to go 

 somewhere. Yet they can fly with speed and strength, 

 and in the breeding season they indulge in dizzy aerial 

 gymnastics, accompanied by their own merry music. 

 Their song is a w^heezy little tune in the ascending scale, 

 — a kind of crescendo, — which sounds as if it were 

 produced by inhalation rather than by exhalation, but so 

 bubbling over with gladness as to be enchanting. 



