FRINGILLID.^; — THE FINCHES — SPIZELLA. 



207 



Hah. Eastprn North America to the Missouri ; Ilocky Mountains to Little Colorado 

 Kiver, New Mexico ; Sierra Nevada and Cascade jSIountaius (?). 



. ;5jftj*' 



Although not contained in the collections of any late explorers within 

 this State, it is quite prohable tliat tliis bird visits California in winter, and 

 may even remain during summer about the summits of the Sierra Nevada, 

 where I thought I saw them in September, 1863, though not successful in 

 obtaining a specimen. I also saw them, as I thought, near the mouth of the 

 Columbia in the winter of 1854, and Dr. Suckley obtained at the Dalles in 

 January, 1855, what he identified Avith the description of this species. 



In the Atlantic States it is a winter visitor, having at that season much 

 the same habits as the chippy {S. socialis), but towards spring displaying 

 considerable musical talent, singing something like the yellow-bird (6'. Ms- 

 tis), though with less variety. (Nuttall.) 



They retire far north in summer, Ijreeding around Hudson's Bay, and 

 in the Mackenzie Eiver country to the Arctic Ocean, where, according to 

 Hutchins, the nest-is like that of S. socialis, and the eggs pale brown, with 

 darker spots. They probably lireed in the Rocky ]\Iountains, lat. 39°, where 

 they were found in Augoist, by Lieutenant F. T. Bryan, U. S. A. 



Spizella socialis, Wilson. 



THE CHIPPING SPAKEOW. 



Frinrjilla socialis, Wilsok, Am. Orn. II. 1810, 127 ; pi. xvi. f. 5. — NnTT.\LL, Man. I. 2cl cd. 

 574. — 5/»>//a .swi'ti/i's, BoNAPAETE, List, 1838. In. Conspectus, 18.50,480. — Baird, 

 P. R. Ecp. IX. Birds, 473. — Heekmann, X. li. 48. — CoorER and Suckley, XII. iii. 

 Zool. of W. T. 203. — Emheri-a socialis, AcDtiBON, Syn. 1839. In. Birds Amer. III. 

 1841, 80; pi. 1G5. 



Sp. Cii.\it. Rump, back of neck, and sides of head and neck, ashy. Interscapular 

 region with black streaks, margined with pale rufous. Crown continuous and uniform 

 chestnut. Forehead black, separated in the middle by white. A white streak over the 



