42 THE PINE LINNET. 



the previous summer, I shot a soHtary bird on a thistle, 

 which, in movement and appearance, reminded me of the 

 Goldfinch. It proved, however, to be its near relative, the 

 Pine Linnet [Chrysomitris pinus)^ the first of the kind I had 

 ever identified. Like many birds, appearing plain in the 

 distance, on a close examination it is found to be a thing of 

 delicate beauty. The size and form of the Goldfinch, it differs 

 much from it in color. About 4.V5 inches long, above it is 

 narrowly streaked with black or dusky and yellowish flaxen, 

 beneath with dusky and yellowish white; the rump 3^ellow- 

 ish; the bases of the black or dusky v/ing and tail feathers, 

 bright, sulphury yellow, the same feathers being narrowly 

 edged externally with yellowish; the yellow at the bases of 

 wing and tail feathers being especially noticeable in flight. 



This bird ranges generally in flocks, and more or less 

 irregularly throughout the United States in winter, and, as 

 far as yet known, breeds from the latitude of Maine north- 

 ward. It is sometimes in Western New York already in 

 flocks by the 4th of July. 



Dr. C. Hart Merriam, of Locust Grove, Lewis County, 

 New York, writes concerning this species: *'Few birds are 

 more erratic in their habits than the Siskin or Pine Linnet. 

 Occurring to-day, perhaps, in such numbers that one soon 

 tires of shooting them, they are gone on the morrow, and 

 years may elapse before one is seen again." Concerning 

 1878, he continues: "During the past winter and spring 

 they literally swarmed in Lewis County, New York, and 

 thousands of them bred throughout the heavy evergreen 

 forests east of Black River, while many scattered pairs 

 nested in suitable hemlock and balsam swamps in the mid- 

 dle districts." Again he says of this region, and of Big 

 Otter Lake in Herkimer County: "Never before at any 

 locality have I seen a species of bird represented by such 



