FRIlS^GILLnX^ — THE FIXCIIES — CHRYSOmTMS. IQ>J 



Tlie colors are generally yellow, with lilaek on the crown, throat, hack, winrrs, and tail 

 varied sometimes with white. 



The females are usually without yellow, or it is pale or dull, and their general hues are 

 brown or olive. 



Clirysomitris tristis, LiNXJATfs. 



THE YELLOW-BIED; THE THISTLE-BIED. 



FriiicjiUn tristis, LiNN.^us, Syst. Nat. I. 17G6, .320. — Cardiiclis tristis, AuDUBON, Birds 

 Amcr. II. 1841, 129 ; pi. 181. — Heermanx, V. R. Rep. X. vi. 50. — Cliri/somitris tristis, 

 BoxAPAUTE, List, 1838. — Newberry, Zool. Cal. anJ Or. Route ; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. 

 VII. iv. 1857, 87. — Baird, R. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 421. —Cooper aiul Si;ckley, XII. 

 iii. Zool. ol'W. T. 197. 



Sp. Char. Mule. Bright gamboge-yellow ; crown, wings, and tail black. Lesser 

 wing coverts, band across the end of gi-eater ones, ends of secondaries and tertiaries, inner 

 margins of tail feathers, upper and under tail coverts, and tibia, white. In winter the yel- 



low becomes brownish, the black is wanting on crown, and that on wings is browner. 

 Throat vellowish beneath, ashy-brown ; abdomen white The female is much like this at 

 all times, but more olivaceous. Its bill is brownish, the tip paler. Length of male, 5.25 ; 

 extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.00. Iris brown ; bill yellowisli-wliite, tip black ; feet pale brown. 

 Hah. Xorth America generally. 



The yellow-birds are constant residents in all the western parts of Cali- 

 fornia, hut I saw none along the Colorado. They become rare north of the 

 Columbia along the coast, but continue in the interior up to lat. 49°. Tliey 

 breed near San Diego as well as northward, and seem to avoid the hot in- 

 terior valleys, as well as the forest-clad mountains. Their favorite resorts 

 are in fact those places where thistles and other composite floAvers abound, 

 and their fondness for the seeds of the former has given them, in places, the 

 name of " thistle-bird." They are also very fond of willoM--groves and 

 cottonwoods, feeding much on their seeds, while in winter those of the 

 sycamore (Platamis) supply their chief subsistence. In the Eastern States 

 they remain throughout the snowy season, and are often seen feeding on 

 cockle-ljurs and other seeds left standing above the snow. 



