Arkansas Goldfinch {Astragalinus psaltna and sub-species) 



Length : About 4j > inches. Upper parts olive green, more or less mixed 

 with black in the sub-species ; under parts yellow. 



Range: Breeds from southern Oregon, Utah, and northern Colorado to 

 southern Lower California and into Mexico. 



In the far west this goldfinch takes the place of the eastern goldfinch which 

 in a general way it much resembles in habits. I^ike that bird, it is rarely seen, 

 save in the breeding season, except in small parties, the members of which seem 

 to be on terms of the utmost familiarity and accord. The flight of this species, 

 as of its kindred, is exceedingly characteristic. It disdains to cleave the air in 

 straight lines but progresses in a series of graceful sinuous curves, which, how- 

 ever, take the little aeronaut rapidly from point to point. This flight is a sure 

 mark of identification. The bird has a sweet warbling song and even its call 

 notes are plaintive and pleasing. It abounds in orchards and gardens and is often 

 to be seen by the roadside gleaning its food from the tall stems of thistle, sun- 

 fiowers, groundsel and other seed-bearing plants and weeds, all of them either 

 useless or positively harmful. It is by no means wholly a vegetarian, however, 

 and eats many plant lice, sometimes filling the stomach with these minute creatures 

 to the exclusion of all other food. As a weevil eater it is peerless, and it does no 

 harm to any product of husbandry. Altogether this pretty little goldfinch deserves 

 protection at the hands of man. 



Franklin's Gull {Lanisfnuiklin) 



Length : 15 inches. During its residence in the L'nited States Franklin's gull 

 is practically confined to the interior and is the only inland ,gull with black head 

 and red bill. 



Range: Breeds in the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, and the neighboring parts 

 of southern Canada : winters from the Gulf Coast to South America. 



Habits and economic status : Nearly all of our gulls are coast-loving species 

 and spend comparatively little of their time in fresh water, but Franklin's is a 

 true inland gull. Extensive marshes bordering shallow lakes are its chosen 

 breeding grounds, and as many such areas are being reclaimed for agricultural 

 purposes it behooves the tillers of the soil to protect this valuable species. When 

 undisturbed this gull becomes quite fearless and follows the plowman to gather 

 the grubs and worms from the newly turned furrows. It lives almost exclusively 

 upon insects, of which it consumes great quantities. Its hearty appetite is mani- 

 fest from the contents of a few stomachs : A, 327 nymphs of dragonflies : B, 340 

 grasshoppers, 52 bugs, 3 beetles, 2 wasps, and 1 spider: C. 82 beetles, 87 bugs, 984 

 ants. 1 cricket, 1 grasshopper, and 2 spiders. About four-fifths of the total food 

 is grasshoppers, a strong point in favor of this bird. Other injurious creatures 

 eaten are billbugs, sc[uash bugs, leaf-hoppers, click beetles (adults of wireworms). 

 May beetles ( adults of white grubs"), and weevils. Franklin's gull is probably the 

 most beneficial bird of its group. 



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