ALEUTIAN ROSY FINCH 351 



being the number most frequently found. They are slightly glossy; 

 white or light creamy white, and unspotted. 



The measurements of 50 eggs average 24.5 by 17.3 millimeters; 

 the eggs showing the four extremes measure 28.3 by 17.0, 23.4 by 

 18.8, 21. S by 16.3, and 22.9 by 15.8 millimeters. 



Plumages. — Ridgway (1901) describes the juvenal plumage of this 

 finch as follows: "Uniform grayish brown, more or less washed with 

 a more umber tint; wings and tail dusky slate, the feathers margined 

 with paler; edges of greater wing-coverts and tertials dull buffy; no 

 trace of pink on tail-coverts, etc., nor of gray or black on head." 



The sexes are alike in the juvenal plumage and nearly alike in all 

 plumage, though the females may average a very little duller than 

 the males. The seasonal changes in plumage are not conspicuous. 

 In winter birds the pink are of a softer hue and the feathers of the 

 breast are narrowly margined with paler. Material is not available 

 for a study of the molts. 



Food. — Stejneger (1885) examined the gullets of several specimens, 

 of one of which he says: "Gullet crammed with an enormous mass 

 of food, consisting of (1) several dozens of a Coleopterous insect, and 

 (2) a similar number of larvae, etc., (3) besides leaves and buds of 

 Cochlearia, and (4) some seeds." 



We frequently saw these finches feeding on the snow banks, picking 

 up seeds and insects which had been blown there by the high winds. 



Behavior. — These rosy finches are restless, roving birds, often seen 

 sweeping over the mountains in long swinging curves; while feeding 

 on the snow banks they were usually too shy to be approached, but 

 about the rocky summits, where their nests are well concealed, they 

 are very tame; they will sit on some nearby rock, chirping loudly in 

 protest, or fly about from point to point in swinging billowy flight, 

 twittering constantly. 



Voice. — Nelson (1887) says: "This bird has no song, but utters a 

 low, mellow chirp. * * * Dall adds that it has no song at any season, 

 but a clear chirp-like weet-a-weet-a-weet-weet." 



Distribution 



Range. — The Aleutian rosy finch is resident in the Aleutian Islands 

 (Near Islands to Akutan Islands), Nunivak Island, western part of the 

 Alaska Peninsula, Unga Island, and Semidi Islands. One breeding 

 specimen was taken on Kodiak Island. Winters also on Kodiak 

 Island. 



