472 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Chrysomitris tristis. 



yellow below ; two broad bands across coverts, and broad edges to last half of secondaries 

 pale rufous. 



Hab. North America generally. 



In winter the yellow is replaced by a yellowish-brown ; the black of the 

 crown wanting, that of wings and tail browner. The tln^oat is generally 

 yellowish ; the under parts ashy-brown, passing behind into white. 



There are no observable differences between eastern and western speci- 

 mens. 



Habits. The common American Goldtinch is found throughout the 



greater portion of North America, from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific. Sir John 

 Richardson met with it in the fur re- 

 gions, where it is one of the tardiest of 

 the sunnner visitors, and whence it de- 

 parts early in September. The s})eci- 

 men described by him M'as taken June 

 29. At the extreme South it is not 

 uncommon, according to Dresser, around 

 San Antonio, and Dr. Woodliouse found 

 it abundant both in Texas and in the 

 Indian- Territory. Dr. Coues did not 

 find it in Arizona, nor does Sumichrast 

 give it as a bird of Vera Cruz. Dr. Newberry found this Finch quite com- 

 mon throughout his route .to the Columbia, this sweet songster, he states, 

 having been a constant source of pleasure in the interior both of California 

 and Oregon, far from the haunts of men, where everything else was new and 

 strange. But Dr. Suckley, though he looked carefully for this species about 

 Puget Sound, in the most appropriate situations, was unable to find any, and 

 did ilot believe that an"]^ existed there. Dr. Cooper states that it is, however, 

 quite abundant on the Columbia and along the coast near its mouth. 



The last-named writer states that this species is a constant resident in all 

 the western parts of Caliibrnia, but he met with none on the Colorado. They 

 l)ecume rare on the coast at the Columbia, but farther in tlie interior are 

 found as far north as latitude 49°. They breed as far soutli as San Diego, 

 but seem to avoid the hot interior valleys, as well as the mountains. Tlieir 

 favorite resorts are where thistles and other composite plants abound, and 

 also groves of willow and cottonwood, upon the seeds of which they feed 

 largely. Tu . winter the seeds' of the buttonwood supply their chief sub- 

 sistence. 



The common Goldfinch was seen in abundance by Mr. Ridgway only in 

 the vicinity of Sacramento City, associated with the Carpodacus frontalis, 

 and often nesting in the same tree. In the interior this species was rarely 

 seen, and only one specimen was secured in the Truckee Valley in May, and 

 not noticed afterwards. It was, however, found breeding in the Uintah 



