308 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 part i 



have commented on the important part cactus fruit plays in the 

 linnet's diet where other food is scarce. Some individuals, at least, 

 show a marked liking for sugar syrup. 



From available evidence, it would seem that the economic status 

 of the house finch might be summarized somewhat as follows: In 

 the case of fairly large commercial orchards, their depredations 

 should not be overly serious, and in years when there is overpro- 

 duction they might be actually beneficial to the grower, since the 

 attacks of the birds, unlike many insect infestations, in no way 

 impair the vitality and future productive capacity of the trees. It 

 is in small home orchards that they become most annoying and 

 destructive, especirdly since, as Beal points out, their concentration 

 is greatest in such an environment. On the other hand, their con- 

 sumption of weed seeds is undoubtedly of great benefit, though 

 this cannot be expressed in terms of actual monetary value. 



Behavior. — The house finch is eminently social in disposition, and 

 outside the breeding season is usually seen with others of its kind, in 

 numbers ranging from small groups to immense flocks. Among 

 themselves, as well as with other birds, they are comparatively 

 peaceable and not especially given to aggression. Bergtold (1913), 

 whose intimate study of the birds enabled him to know many of them 

 as individuals, stressed the high degree of variation found among 

 them, not only in physical characteristics such as color and markings, 

 but in such attributes as tameness, quarrelsomeness, and gentleness. 

 The notable differences in the timidity of nesting birds, as mentioned 

 previously, may perhaps be taken as examples of these marked 

 individual or clan variations. Clearly it is useless to attempt to define 

 too closely the behavior pattern of such a species. 



The linnet's fliglit is bounding and free, usually clearing the tops 

 of trees and buildings rather than passing between them. Descent 

 to the ground is ordinarily only for the purpose of feeding on weed 

 seed, and they prefer to eat fruit still hanging on the tree rather than 

 that which has fallen to the ground. When idle, they choose com- 

 paratively high perches, and great numbers may often be seen lined 

 up on transmission wires. Grinnell and Storer (1924) comment on the 

 behavior of this species in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada: 



Linnets, like purple finches, when frightened usually seek safety in flight rather 

 than in dodging into the protection of trees or brush as many sparrows are wont to 

 do. If a flock of linnets is come upon suddenly, while feeding In a weed patch or on 

 the ground, they get up quickly with an audible whirring of wings and make 

 rapidl}' off in ascending course. The flock is usually dense when it first rises. 

 Then it opens out and the individuahty of the members is expressed as each 

 pursues its own undulating course. Linnets, more perhaps than any other 

 of the finches, are accustomed to strike out into the open, mounting high into the 

 sky and circling for a time, before descending again. 



