168 SIXGING BIRDS— OSCIXES. 



In February, when the males acquire their yellow plumage, the flocks 

 often collect on top of a tree, and sing in chorus for an hour, their sweet 

 discord being particularly pleasing, the whole flock sinking and raising 

 their voices in concert, though not keeping one time. Their song, resem- 

 T)ling somewhat that of the canary, is well known, as they are frequently 

 kept in cages. 



At Santa Cruz 1 found two nests about the first of June. One was in a 

 liush, not more than tlii'ee feet from the groiind ; the other on the low Viranch 

 of a tree, near the end, and contained young. They also build liigli in the 

 forks of trees. The nest is very compactly constructed of strijis of bark, 

 roots, and fibrous plants, mixed witli downy scales of leaves and catkins, and 

 lined witli tliistle-down, that of the sycamore, or sometimes %vool or cow- 

 liair and fine grass, the cavity measuring 1..50 X 1.30 inches. The oiitside 

 is often covered witli silk of caterpillars' nests, cobwebs, or plant fibres, and 

 seems glued smootlily togetlier. The eggs, from three to five, are pale 

 greenisli-white, and measure 0.60 X 0..50 inch. 



Being rather late in the year in building, they usually raise but one 

 brood, tliough they have been known to feed their young as late as the 

 middle of September. (Nuttall.) Tliis lateness of incul)ation is observed 

 also in the East, and supposed to depend upon the absence of some neces- 

 sary kind of food in the earlier months. 



Though occasionally visiting gardens for lettuce and sunflower seeds, they 

 rarely do any mischief, not meddling witli fruits, but doing much good by 

 destroying thistle seeds. 



Chrysomitris psaltria, Sat. 



THE AKKANSAS FINCH. 



FringiJla psaJlria, Sat, Long's E.\pc(l. R. Mts. II. 182.3, 40. — Box.vrAKTE, Am. Orn. I. 

 1825,54; pi. &, {. 3. — CarHiieHs jmillria, AcDnnoN', Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 1.34; pi. 

 183. — IIeermann, 1'. R. Rep. X. vi. 50. — Chrysomitris psaltria, Bonaparte, List, 

 1838. — Newbeurv, P. R. Rep. VL iv. 87. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 422.— 

 Kennerlt, X. iv. 28. 



Sr. Cii-VR. Ujipcr jiarts and sido? nf lirad ami nock olive-p-een. Hood, uppor tail 

 coverts, wings, and tail black. Beneath, bright yellow. A band across the tips of the 

 greater coverts, the ends of nearly all the tjuills, the outer edges of the tertiarics, the ex- 

 treme bases of all the primaries, except the outer two, and a long rectangular patch on 

 the inner webs of the outer three tail feathers near the middle, wdiite. 



Female, with the upper parts generally, and sides, olive-green ; the wings and tail 

 brown, then- wdiitc marks as in the male. Length, 4.50 ; extent, 8.00 ; wing, 2 65 ; tail, 

 187. Iris brown; bill horn-lirown, greenish below; feet pale brown (or flesb-color in 

 summer) . 



Hah. Southern Rock^- ^Mountains to the coast of California. 



