PIPILO CHLORURUS, GREEN-TAILED FINCH. 177 



Within the general range just mentioned the movements of this spe- 

 cies remain to be precisely ascertained. The bird probably breeds in 

 mountains throughout its range, and lower down in higher latitudes. 

 It lias been ascertained to breed in Colorado. Dr. Hayden's specimens 

 may represent its limit in one direction. In the higher portions of Ari- 

 zona, I ascertained its presence in numbers, but only during the migra- 

 tions, in April and May, and in September, It appeared to be a shy, 

 retiring bird, courting the seclusion of tangled undergrowth, where it 

 might easily be overlooked, unless diligently sought for. I generally 

 observed it in small, straggling companies, associated with other friu- 

 gilliue birds. Dr. Cooper states that it winters in the Colorado Valley, 

 as well as in Lower California. 



In a late communication to me, Mr. Allen observes : " This is one of 

 the most interesting birds met with in the wooded portions of the great 

 central plateau of the continent. In the mountains of Colorado it 

 ranges from the foot-hills up to the limit of trees, and throughout the 

 mountain valleys is one of the more common species. It atfects the 

 moister thickets near the streams, and possesses a peculiar and very 

 pleasing song. In habits or notes it has but little resemblance to the 

 group of Towhees with which it is commonly associated by systematic 

 writers, presenting in these respects far more resemblance to the group 

 of Sparrows so familiarly represented in the Atlantic States by the com- 

 mon White-throat, from which it only differs structurally in its relatively 

 longer tail." Mr. Trippe's notes upon the same subject will be read with 

 interest : " The Green-tailed Finch is abundant throughout Clear Creek 

 CouJity, from its lower valleys up to within 700 or 800 feet of timber- 

 line, breeding throughout; but is most numerous, during the nesting 

 season, from 7,500 to 9,000 feet. It arrives at Idaho early in May, and 

 soon becomes abundant, remaining till the close of September or early 

 part of October. It is a sprightly, active little bird, with something 

 wren-like in its movements and appearance. It is equally at home 

 among the loose stones and rocks of a hill-side (where it hops about with 

 all the agility of the Eock Wren), and the densest thickets of brambles 

 and willows in the valleys, amidst which it loves to hide. It is rather 

 shy, and prefers to keep at a good distance from any suspicious object ; 

 and if a cat or dog approaches its nest, makes a great scolding, like the 

 Cat-bird, and calls all the neighbors to its assistance ; but if a person 

 walks by, it steals nway very quietly and remains silent till the danger 

 is passed. It has a variety of notes which it is fond of uttering ; one 

 sounds like the mew of a kitten, but thinner and more wiry ; its song is 

 very fine, (piite different from the Towhee's, and vastly superior to it. 

 It builds its nest in dense clumps of brambles, and raises two broods 

 each season, the first being hatcijed about the middle of June." 



The eggs of this species have recently been brought in by Mr. H. W. 

 Henshaw, one of the naturalists of Lieutenant Wheelers Survey. 

 They are rather peculiar, being of a pale greenish or grayish-white, 

 freckled all over with rich reddish-brown, the speckling being aggre- 

 gated in a wreath or area about the larger end of the vix^. Some speci- 

 mens are much more minutely and obsoletely dotted than others, i)ut 

 in all the cases I have seen the markings are (piite regular, Mr. (!. FI. 

 Trook also took the eggs on Snake and Ueiu-y Iviver. The nest is 

 placed iiulifferently on the gi'ound or in a low bush. The cg;<^ measures 

 0.90 by 0.08. The e<^g is of the same general 'character as that of P. 

 erythrophthalmus and its allies; but entirely different from the whole 

 P. /«,s'c»,s' group, in which the style is curiously as in A(jcl(cus — a pale 

 greenish ground, sharply spotted, scratched and streaked with blackish. 

 12 



