BRITISH COLUMBIA AND HYPOTHETICAL LIST. 971 



severely plain suit like that of the female. A month or so is spent by both old and young 

 in recruiting strength — a season which is passed for the most part in loose flocks — and then 

 the leisurely journey southward is begun, about the twentieth of August. The sole and 

 characteristic note from this on is a metallic dink or chink. There is little concert about 

 their southward movement, and the air in middle latitudes may resound with dink cries at 

 any time of night, and often in the daytime, for a month. The birds gather in immense 

 numbers in the reeds of the Chesapeake region, and are slaughtered by thousands for the 

 market, where they are known as "Reed-birds." Later in their retreat they infest the rice- 

 swamps of the Carolinas and Georgia, where they are also killed in great numbers, with 

 perhaps some little show of justice. But surely if our Southern neighbors could realize of 

 how much delicious music they deprive us another year, they would not be so cruel. It is 

 a great pity that the burden of the musician's support does not fall more heavily upon us, 

 for how cheerfully would we bear it ! 



B. C. & H. No. 2. 



HOARY REDPOI.r. 



A. O. U. Xo. 527 a. Acanthis hornemannii exilipes (Coues). 



Description. — Adult: Somewhat similar to A. Unnrin (q. v. p. 82) but much paler, less 

 streaked and more extensively white : crown crimson ; feathers of extreme forehead dusky 

 tipped with hoary; lores and throat (narrowly) dusky; color pattern of upperparts as in 

 linaria but dusky streaks smaller and less distinct, the flaxen paler, nearly white; rump pure 

 white or rosy-tinged, unmarked; underparts white, the breast tinged with rosy; the sides 

 streaked, faintly and sparsely, with dusky, the crissum nearly immaculate. Length much as 

 in A. linaria. the feet smaller and weaker. 



General Range. — Of circumboreal distribution but not so northerly as A. hornemannii; 

 breeds in Arctic and sub-arctic America and migrates to northern border of United States 

 in winter. 



Occurrence in British Columbia. — Typical specimens of this form have been taken in 

 winter at Qucsnelle by Mr. Sidney Williams. One absolutely t}pical as regards shape of 

 hill but showing an admixture of linaria in plumage was taken by myself at Sumas on the 

 southern border. 



Supposed Occurrence in Washington. — Redpolls frequent the eastern portion of the 



State in myriads in winter and there is no reasonable doubt that the hosts include a small 

 percentage of this species, as elsewhere along the northern border of the United States. 



B. C. & H. No. 3. 



McCOWX'S I.ONGSPUR. 



A. O. U No. 539. Rhynchophanes mccownii (Lawrence). 



Description. — Adult male in summer: Crown black bordered by white superciliary; 

 remaining upperparts slaty gray varied by dusky streaks and lighter gray and ochraceous 

 edgings; median coverts chestnut; a rectangular area of white centrally on tail involving 

 all feathers save middle pair; sides of head whitish with slaty auriculars; throat white 

 bounded by black maxillary stripe; a crescentic patch of black on breast, shading posteriorly 

 through slaty black, thence to whitish of remaining underparts. Bill blackish paling basally 

 below; feet brownish black. Female in summer: Similar to male but paler and duller, 

 crown like back and breast slaty gray; bill and feet lighter brown. //; winter, plumage of 

 both sexes duller and black pattern of adult male nearly effaced by grayish ends of feathers. 

 Length about 6.00; wing 3.50; tail 2.25; bill .50; tarsus .65. 



General Range. — Region of the Upper Missouri and its tributaries, north to Saskatche- 

 wan, west regularly to Rocky Mountains, casually further; south in winter to Texas, 

 Arizona and Mexico; breeds from Colorado northwards. 



Occurrence in British Columbia. — I shot an adult male at Chilliwack on June ist, 

 l'887, and two years later took two females at the same spot. These could hardly have 

 been accidental and their occurrence at that season hints at a northern distrilnUion in the 

 breeding season of which we are still ignorant. 



Supposed Occurrence in Washington. — Because of the configuration of the land as 

 well as proximity all Chilliwack and Sumas records are presumptive for northern Washington. 



