FRIXGILLIlXi: — Tl IE FJXCHES _ CHRYSOMITRIS. 



169 



I did not find tliis species in tlie Colorado Valley, though they have been 

 obtained along Williams Fork by Dr. Kennerly. At San Diego and along 

 the ^\■hole coast border they are rather rare, but seem to be common in the 

 interior valleys, and breed in small numbers in the Coast Eange near Santa 

 Cruz. 



They have habits very similar to those of the yellow-bird, but seem to 



1 r 



Male 



feed more on the ground or among weeds than on tree.s, and are perhaps 

 even more gregarious, keeping in flocks up to June 1st. 



I have not met with their nests, or with any description of them ; lint 

 they doubtless much resemble those of C. tristis. 



Their song resembles that of the yellow-lnrd, lint is much fainter. Prob- 

 ably, however, more exact observations than I have been able to make 

 would show many differences both in habits and song, especially if they are 

 kept in cages, in which they would doubtless do well. 



Chrysomitris Mexicanus, BoNArARiE. 



THE MEXICAN GOLDFINCH. 



Cardiielis MeTicatitis, Swainson, Syn. Birds Me.\. Phil. Mag. 1827, 435. — Chri/somitris Mexi- 

 canus, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1850, .'JlG. — Baird, Birds N. Amer. 423. — Friiu/illa 

 Teiensis, Giraud, Sixteen Species of Texan Birds, 1841, pi. v. f. 1. 



Sp. Char. Upper pnrts continuously and entirely black ; the feathers of the i-iunp 

 white subterniinally, and showing this through the black ; a few of the feathers with 



Var. Arizona: Mile. 

 22 



C Mfxirnvn. Fejnah. 



