FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 323 



ear coverts, and back solid glossy black, wings and tail heavily marked 

 with clear white. Adult female : similar to 

 psaltria and arizonn. Male : length (skins) 

 O.85-4.30 wing, 2.44-2.70, tail 1.50-1.75, bill 

 .;n-.42. Female: length (skins) 4.01-4. lU, 

 wing 2.40-2.58, tail 1.50- l.GH. bill .:}5-.40. ^'^- ^'^- Mexican Goldfinch. 



Distribution. — South from central Texas through Mexico, except ex- 

 treme northwestern and soutliern parts ; accidental in (^olorado. 



531. Astragalinus lawrencei (Cass.). Lawrence Goldfinch. 



Adult male. — Face and t/iroat as well as crown black; niedian under 

 parts yellow, surrounded by gray ; rump and 

 wings washed with gi*eenish yellow. Adult 

 female : similar to male, but without black on 

 head or throat, and colors duller. In winter : Pi„ ^^v^ 



both sexes colored as in summer, but colors 



more subdued. Young : similar to adult female, but duller, and lower 

 parts indistinctly streaked. Male : length (skins) o.02-4.()(), wing 2.61- 

 2.7(), tail 1.81-2.00, bill .ol-oo. Female: length (skins) 4.04-4.50, wing 

 2.4S-2.r4. tail l.()()-1.87, bill .;U-.:]5. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Upper and Lower Sonoran zones from about 

 latitude 40^ in California, west of the Sierra Nevada, soutli to Lower Cali- 

 fornia ; occure during winter in southwestern Arizona and New Mexico. 



Eggs. — Pure white. 



Food. — Largely weed seed, including that of the Kussian thistle. 



In Los Angeles County, California, jNIr. Grinnell says laicrencei is 

 found mainly on the mesa, in the mountain canyons, and pine for- 

 ests below 6000 feet. From December until the last of ]\Larch small 

 flocks feed in weed patches along the banks of the arroyos. 



GENUS SPINUS. 



533. Spinus pinus (HV/.s-.l. Pine Siskin: Pine Finch. 



Similar to Astragalinus. but plumage streaked gray and brown, without 

 yellow or black except for yelh)w patches on wings and tail. Adults: 

 whole body finely streaked with brown, on brownish 

 ground above, on whitish below ; 6r/.sa/ portions of seconda- 

 ries and tail feathers sulphur i/ellow. Young: upper jjarts 

 mustard yellow, tinged with hrowuisli olive, feathers 

 streaked, excejit on bellv ; wing bauds and jjatches brown. 

 Male: length (skins) 4.20-4.S5, wing 2.72-:{.0O, tail 1.57- 

 1.83, bill .88-44. Female: length (skins) 4.2.'>-5.14, wing 

 2.<'.;l-2.<)7. tail 1.60-l.si, bill .:',li-.47. 



liemarks. - The siskin is easily recognized in the field, 

 wing and tail patches show in fliglit. 



l)istrd)Uti(in. — IJreeds in (';tn;idi.'in and Iludsonian zone forests in the 

 mount.iins of western North America, also in the' northeastern United 

 States ; may occur in winter in almost any p.irt of the United States and 

 Mexico. 



Nest. — Usnally rather Hat though compactly made of fine twigs, root- 

 lets, an<l plant fii)ers. lined with fine ntotlets and hair. Fggs : usually:? 

 or 4, j)ah- greenish blue. spe<-kle<l, chiefly around the larger end, with red- 

 dish brown, u.stially with a few snuill black m.irkings. 



