FRINGILLrD^ — THE FINCHES. 293 



streaked externally with black. Feathers of throat white in the middle. CJnder tail- 

 coverts similar to sides, but paler. Edges of outer six primaries with white at the base 

 and on the middle of the outer web. Inner two tertiaries also edged externally with 

 white. Tail feathers black; outer web of the first, with the ends of the first to the third, 

 white, decreasing from the exterior one. Outermost quill usually shorter than ninth, or 

 even than secondaries; fourth qnill longest, fifth scarcely shorter. Iris red; said to be 

 sometimes paler, or even white, in winter. Length. 8.75; wing. 3.75; tail, 4.10. Bill black; 

 legs flesh-eolor. Female with black replaced by a rather rufous brown." 



"The tail feathers are only moderately graduated on the sides ; 

 the outer about .40 of an inch shorter than the middle. The outer 

 tail-feather has the terminal half white, the outline transverse ; the 

 white of the second is about half as long as that of the fu-st ; of 

 the third half that of the second. The chestnut of the sides reaches 

 forward to the back of the neck, and is visible when the wings are 

 closed. 



"A young bird has the prevailing color reddish olive above, spotted 

 with lighter; beneath brownish white, streaked thickly with bro'wn." 

 {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Next to the splendid Cardinal, the Chewink is decidedly the finest 

 of our terrestrial Fringillidse, and in some respects is, perhaps, the 

 most attractive of all. Without brilliant or gaudy coloring, his 

 plumage is yet handsome by reason of its bold contrasts. His notes 

 possess a peculiar charm, and notwithstanding his abode is in the 

 thickets of the wildwood and the remote corners of the farm, no 

 bird is more confiding in the presence of man. 



The distribution of this sj)ecies within the State is very general, 

 thickets only being a condition of its presence. In the southern 

 poi-tion it is a permanent resident, but northward it departs in 

 winter. 



"Thickets, bushy pastures and barren tracts on the higher grounds 

 are the favorite resorts of tliis species. It comes early, reaching the 

 Middle States in April. The bottom poles of an old rail fence, 

 among the briars by the woods, is very likely to be its thorough- 

 fare ; and at all times it keeps for the most part on or near the 

 ground. Sit down quietly in the thicket, and you will hear its 

 sharp rustle, as it scratches among the dry leaves, — tliis hen-like 

 scratcliing, probably in search of food, being one of its marked 

 characteristics of habit. As it flits from bush to bush, never flying 

 far nor high, you can hear the wliir-r-r-r of its shoi"t, rounded, 

 concave wings, and as it opens its long, fan-like tail with a jerking 

 motion, the white markings contrast strongly with the jet-black 

 •figure. It hops, and sidles, and dodges about, in and out through 



