292 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 paut i 



southern California. The present widely distributed subspecies is 

 characterized by a great amount of variation, but Ridgway (1901) 

 pronounced these differences individual rather than geographical, 

 and they have been generally so regarded. This decision was based 

 on an examination of adults only. In view of the striking differences 

 in the natal covering as described hereinafter (p. 302), it maybe per- 

 tinent to note the conclusion of Aiken (1914) "that the House Finches 

 of Colorado east of the mountains and probably of southeastern 

 Wyoming are subspecifically distinct from those of California, Ari- 

 zona and New Mexico as far east as the Rio Grande River. If fur- 

 ther investigation proves this conclusion correct the more western 

 and southern form becomes Carpodacus mexicanus obscurus McCall. 

 Local birds are true frontalis since Say's type locality is the Arkansas 

 Valley." 



In a review of the house finches, Robert T. Moore (1939) goes 

 much farther and divides that portion of the species north of the 

 Mexican border into the subspecies (1) frontalis Say, centering in 

 southern Colorado and New Mexico, (2) smithi Figgins, farther to 

 the north, (3) solitudinis Moore, in Nevada and adjacent arid regions, 

 (4) grinnelli Moore, on the Pacific coast, and (5) dementis Mearns, 

 on San Clemente Island, the birds of the remaining territory being 

 considered intergxades or undetermined. 



Courtship. — In spring the male linnet may often be seen following 

 the female, singing and fluttering his wings. Ralph Hoffmann (1927) 

 says: "At the height of the breeding season the male hops about 

 the indifferent female with tail up, wings drooping, head up and 

 crest feathers raised, singing and making a sound like a sharp intake 

 of breath. The female in the height of the mating period utters a 

 few notes that suggest the male's song." 



Various writers have referred to "courtship feeding" of the female 

 by the male, but these incidents are usually described as occurring 

 during incubation, and Anders H. and Anne Anderson (1944) state 

 that at Tucson, "No 'courtship feeding' was noted during nest build- 

 ing or before. The nest building is done entirely by the female. 

 The male follows, singing frequently from perches close to her work. 

 At intervals both of the birds search for food in the vicinity." How- 

 ever, in the following description by Laurence M. Huey (1925) of 

 "pre-nuptial" feeding at a feeding table in San Diego, the date men- 

 tioned is presumptive evidence that incubation had not yet 

 commenced : 



On the afternoon of March 19, 1925, a pair alighted on the edge of the table 

 and my attention was soon attracted by a peculiar twittering call given by the 

 female. It was rather unusual, so I watched them carefully and observed the 

 male feed the female regurgitated food several times. His actions were much 



