312 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 paRT i 



As to the parasitic insects and mites, Bergtold (1913) says: "The 

 young and nests of the House Finch are always infected by a minute 

 parasite, some of which were collected and sent to an entomologist, 

 who determined that they were not true bird lice (Mallophaga) but 

 mites, probably belonging to the family Gamasidae * * *." At a 

 later date, Bergtold (1927) reported capturing a young finch "which 

 seemed unusually docile. An examination of the bu'd disclosed a 

 good sized swelUng in the cellular tissue just below the right eye, 

 a swelling that proved to be an abscess containing three small living 

 larvae which were removed by expression. Thereupon the bird was 

 liberated, was seen about my premises all that day and was much 

 more lively than })efore." The flies raised from these larvae were 

 identified as Protoccdliphora splendida. 



An unusual form of hazard to which these birds are subject was 

 revealed by Clinton G. Abbott (1931), who reported the discovery 

 on Point Loma by J. W. Sef ton, Jr., of an adult female linnet fluttering 

 helplessly on the ground. "He picked it up and saw that the flight 

 feathers of the left wing were securely attached by spider's webbing 

 to the left foot. In his estimation the bird could never have dis- 

 entangled itself, but with his aid it was able to proceed on its way." 

 Abbott suggests that this "probably represents the maximum size 

 of bird that could be so ensnared in this country." 



Rudolph Donath of the Communicable Disease Center, Depart- 

 ment of Health, Education, and Welfare, Atlanta, Ga., writes on 

 Oct. 17, 1958, that the house finch has been found to carry antibodies 

 of western equine and St. Louis encephalitis. 



Fall. — With the close of the nesting season in late summer, house 

 finches of all ages begin to gather in flocks and search out the larger 

 tracts of maturing weeds, whence they flush and circle in clouds 

 before the passer-by. Referring to the vicinity of Denver, Bergtold 

 (1913) says: "During August and September of each year there 

 is a noticeable diminution of Finches about the city. This is the 

 time when the burdens of nesting and raising of young are practically 

 over, permitting young and old to flock on the prairies to feed on 

 weed seeds * * *." 



Winter. — Even in the mildest regions of coastal California, the 

 numbers of the house finch are distinctly less in winter, though some 

 remain thi'oughout the year in almost all localities. Since H. W. 

 Henshaw (1875) spoke of them as "very abundant at Camp Apache 

 the first of December, frequenting the ravines and hill sides covered 

 with pinons and cedars, as well also as the stubble fields and weeds," 

 it seems not improbable that there is a partial migration to the desert 

 regions where the winter sun shines warmer. That the birds are 



