84 THE PINE SISKIN. 



petent obser\ei" in Greenland, Hull:)i;)ell, the male nut only lieciimes exceed- 

 ingly shv l)ut loses his rosy coloring. It is hardly tO' be supposed that this 

 loss of color is a protective measure, but rather that it is the result of the 

 exhaustive labors incident to the season. Nature, in that forbidding clime, 

 cannot afford to dress a busy workman in fine clothes. It is noteworthy 

 in this connection, also, that caged Redpolls lose their rosv tints ne\'er to 

 regain them. 



No. 30. 



PINE SISKIN 



A. O. U. No. 533. Spinus pinus (Wils.). 



Synonyms. — American Siskin. Pine Finch. Pine Linnet. 



Description. — Adult male and female: Above brownish huffy ; below 

 creamy-buff and whitish ; everywhere streaked with dusky or dark olive-brown ; 

 the streakings are finer on the head and foreparts, coarser on back and breast ; 

 wings fuscous, the flight feathers sulphur-yellow at the base, and the primaries 

 edged with the same color; tail fuscous, all but the middle feathers sulphur- 

 yellow at base. Bill comparatively slender, acute. Length 4.75-5.00 (120. 6-127) ; 

 wing 2.75 (69.9) ; tail 1.80 (45-7) : bill .43 (10.9). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; conspicuous general streakiness, sul- 

 phur-yellow markings of wings and tail, most noticeable in flight. 



Nesting-. — Nest: saddled upon horizontal limb of evergreen tree, well con- 

 cealed from below, usually at moderate heights; very variable in structure, flimsy 

 to massive and ornate; composed of small twigs (usually fir), and tree-moss, with 

 a lining of fine rootlets and horse- or cow-hair, rarely feathers. An average nest 

 measures externally 4^ inches wide by 2% in. deep ; internally 2 in. wide by i in. 

 deep. Eggs: 1-4, usually 3 or 4, pale bluish green lightly dotted with rufous and 

 blackish, chiefly about larger end. Av. size .67x48 (17x12.2). Season: 

 March-September, but most abundant in April; one brood. 



General Range. — North .America at large, breeding in higher latitudes, and 

 in coniferous forests of the West to southern boundary of United States; also 

 sparingly in northeastern United States; irregularly south in winter to Gulf of 

 Mexico. 



Range in Washington. — In summer coextensive with evergreen timber, but 

 especially common in nuiuntains just below limit of trees: m winter more local- 

 ized, or irregularly absent. 



Authorities. — Chrysomitris pinus Bonap. Baird. Rep. Pac. R. R. Sur\'. IX. 

 pt. II. 1858, p. 425. T: C&S. L^ Rh. D'. D^ Kk. J. B. E. 



Specimens.— LT. of W. Prov. B. E. P. 



IN designing the Siskin, Nature achieved audther triumph in obscurities. 

 The heavy streaky pattern, worked out in dusky olive on a huffy brown 



