FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 303 



shrill clatter of the scissor-tail flycatchers, the rattle of woodpeckers, 

 the vociferations of mockingbirds, the cooing- of doves, the piping 

 notes of the vermilion tlycatcher, and the voices of passing birds, it 

 was quite like camping in an aviary. Thougli usually visited by 

 only an occasional Mexican, the birds went about their business as 

 if camp-tires were an everyday occurrence, and paid little heed to 

 us except when we shot a rattlesnake or made other undue signs of 

 our presence. 



Much to our surprise the blackbirds sang in notes that were sweet 

 and astonishingly like tlie call-notes of the goldfinch. But they 

 appeared particularly fond of making a noise that sounded like the 

 breaking of sticks, and it took a prominent part in a ludicrous per- 

 formance which they went through. Seated on an oak top, where 

 his humble spouse could see him to the best advantage, an old male 

 would begin bv spreading his wings and tail to their fullest 

 breadth and making a crackling 'breaking brush' sound which he 

 evidently considered a striking prelude. This done he would 

 quiver his wings frantically and opening wide his bill emit a high 

 falsetto squeal, quee-ee, quee-ee^ qiiee-ee, quee-ee, perhaps attuned to 

 the feminine blackbird ear. But his coiqj d'etat, which should have 

 wrung admiration from the most nnappreciative mate, consisted in 

 striking an attitude, his long bill pointed as nearly straight to the 

 sky as his neck would permit. Po.sed in this way he would sit like 

 a statue, with a most ludicrous air of greatness. Incredible as it 

 may appear, instead of standing spellbound before him, his spouse, 

 practical housewife that she was, whatever her secret admiration 

 may have been, through all his lordship's play calmly went about 

 gathering sticks. 



FAMILY FRINGHiLIDiE : FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



KKY TO GKNER.\. 



1. Wing- conspicuously long- and pointed, prima- 

 ries exceedino- secondaries by nearly or 



more than twice the lenjfth of tarsus. 



FiR. 3(;S. 



/^L^L^ 2. Tips of hill crossed in adults Loxia, p. \\\\\ 



Fir. 3C9. - • Tips of hill not cro.ssed. 



^c ■■■ ";:{;; 



\^ t 



h of hill at hase j^realcr tliaii Icn-th of hind too with 

 iw Coccothraustes. j). .".oT. 



Fijf. 370. :i'. Depth of hill at hase niucli h'ss tli.in Ifii^th of hind t( 

 with (daw. 

 4. Hind (daw h>n«;rr than its toe. 



