FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 481 



where, through July and August, it was quite commoD, and where undoubt- 

 edly it breeds, as a young bird unable to fly was obtained. On the AVahsatch 

 JSIountains it was a very aljundant species, inhabiting the pines as well as the 

 groves of aspens in the alpine regions. Is is gregarious at all times, Hyin*'- 

 in roving, screeching flocks. The notes it utters on all occasions resemble 

 a very peculiar pronunciation of sioe-er, given in a very sharp tone. When 

 tiie flock suddenly takes to flight, this is changed to a more rattling outcry. 

 A nest, containing no eggs, was found in an aspen-tree ; and another, con- 

 taining one egg, similar to those described elsewhere, was found in a fir-tree 

 (Abies) situated near the extremity of a horizontal branch about twenty feet 

 from the ground. 



The Pine Finch is also a very common and resident bird in tlie plateau 

 of Mexico and in the alpine regions of the State of Vera Cruz. Its common 

 name there is Doininignito montcro. In the alpine regions Sumichrast states 

 that it is found to the height of six thousand five hundred feet, and does not, 

 to his knowledge, descend below three thousand feet. It most especially 

 frequents the plateau. 



Ca])tain lUakiston met with this species on the plains of the Saskatche- 

 wan, near the Eocky Mountains, August 6, 1858. 



In the eastern portion of ^Massachusetts it is somewhat irregular in its 

 movements and appearance, which are supposed to be aflected by the abun- 

 dance or scarcity of its food elsewhere. Here it feeds chiefly on seeds of 

 grasses and weeds, probably only after the seeds of the hemlock and other 

 forest trees have iailed it. They are usually most al)undant late in the 

 season and after heavy falls of snow farther north have diminished their 

 means of subsistence. ]Mr. ]\Iaynard found it very numerous in the winter 

 of 1859-60, remaining until quite late in the season, and again in the win- 

 ter of 1868-60, remaining until tlie last week in ^lay. In "Western Mas- 

 sachusetts, according to Mr. Allen, it is a regular winter visitant, but never 

 abundant. It arrives early in October, and may be seen in smaU flocks from 

 that time to the third week in May. It sometimes frequents the apple- 

 orchards, where it feeds on the Aphides. According to Dr. Cones, this spe- 

 cies occasionally strays as far to the soutli as the Carolinas, but it is not 

 common there. 



Wilson observed these birds near Philadelpliia, where they were feeding on 

 the seeds of the alder. Later in the season they collected in larger flocks 

 and took up their abode among the pine woods. In one particular locality, 

 he states, a flock of two or three hundred of these birds regularly wintered, for 

 many years in succession, where noble avenues of pines furnished them "with 

 abundant food throughout the season. Early in March they all disappeared. 

 While there, they were so tame as to allow a person to approach within a 

 few yards. They fluttered among the branches, frequently hanging from the 

 cones, at the same time uttering notes closely resembling those of the Gold- 

 finch. 



61 



