FRINGILLID^E — THE FINCHES. 475 



With quite a small series of specimens, a perfect transition can be shown 

 from the typical C. jpsaltria, as above described, to the C. columhianus, the 

 opposite extreme (see table, page 471). The former is the most northern, 

 the latter the most southern form ; arizonm and mexicana, intermediate 

 in liabitat, are also as strikingly so in plumage. The difference is in the 

 quantity of the black, this color predominating over the olive of the back 

 and the white of wings and tail, in proportion as we go southward. Tliere 

 cainiot, upon the wliole, be any doubt that they are all specifically the same. 

 The females can scarcely be distinguished. 



Habits. The Arkansas Finch was iirst discovered in Long's expedition to 

 the Rocky Mountains, and described by Say in 1823. It has since been met 

 witli in New Mexico and in various parts of California. Dr. Cooper did not 

 find this species in the Colorado Valley, although Dr. Kennerly met with 

 it along Williams Fork, in New Mexico. Dr. Woodhouse did not see it in 

 his route to the Zuni Eiver, either in -New Mexico or the Indian Territory. 



Dr. Kennerly met with these birds in the month of February. He found 

 them very abundant all along the banks of the Bill Williams Fork. They 

 were feeding on tlie young buds of the cottonwood trees. A that season 

 they were in small fiocks, and the only note he heard from them was a short 

 chirp, as they hopped from twig to twig, or flew from one tree to another. 



Dr. Heermann states that he found these Finches abundant in the northern 

 mining regions of California, frequenting and feeding in the same localities 

 witli the G. laiorencii, and often associated with the Pine Finch. He adds 

 that, \A'hile thus associated, he shot a large number of both species. They 

 seemed to be employed, at the time, in picking out the fine gravel mixed in 

 the mud used as mortar for a chimney, flying away at each discharge of the 

 gun, but returning, in a few minutes, to the same place. 



Mr. Audubon regarded this species as accidental in Louisiana, having 

 procured individuals a few miles from Bayou Sara. • 



The Arkansas Goldfinch was found by Mr. Ridgway among the Wahsatch 

 Mountains, his attention being at once drawn to it by its curious notes. He 

 first met with it in " City-Creek Cafion," near Salt Lake City, where indi- 

 viduals of it were freipiently found mixed in with flocks of G. 2^'inus. The 

 note of this bird is remarkable for its power and very sad tone. The ordi- 

 nary note is a plaintive, mellow, whistling call, inqjossible to describe, and 

 so inflected as to produce a very mournful effect. When the bird takes to 

 flight, it is changed to a simple cheef, similar to the anxious notes of the male 

 Agdaius phcenicens, uttered when its nest is disturbed. This species was 

 quite rare, not being so common as either G. pinus or C. tristis. Its nest 

 was found in Parley's Park, Wahsatch Mountains, June 22, in the top of a 

 willow-bush near a stream. 



At San Diego, and along the whole coast border of California, Dr. Cooper 

 thinks that this Finch is rather rare. In the interior valleys they seem to 

 be quite common. They also breed in small numbers in the Coast Range, 



