CHU YSOMITRJS PINUS. * ' ^ 



ox(!lusivc]y npoii soeds, and as they cannot find sufficient of this food eai'lier in the season 

 brccnl Lite. The young accompany the adults early in September, when they flock to old 

 fiolil? wliicli are grown up to thistles. Even during the breeding season the males show 

 an iuclinatiou to flock, and as they are then full of melody, each singing with a continuous, 

 warbling, song, of many minutes' duration, the effect produced by a concert of voices is 

 very fine. The males also have a singular habit of flying about the neighborhood of the 

 nests, in huge circles, emitting a peculiar note which is louder and clearer than that given 

 at other seasons. Both sexes are remarkably fond of bathing in summer, yet they cannot 

 be considered as cleanly for their feathers are frequently bedaubed with a gummy sub- 

 tance, from seeds. 



The southward migration begins shortly after the autumnal moult, which occurs about 

 the first of September. As before remarked the winter range is regulated largely by the 

 suow-fall, for, when deep, it renders the seeds inaccessible upon which the birds depend 

 for a sustenance. During such seasons Goldfinches may be found as far south as Florida. 

 I even saw them at Miami, in large numbers, in the winter of 1870-71. While in the 

 above mentioned State they feed largely on the new seeds of maples which appear early 

 in January. They leave for the North in March. 



I should have stated that the eggs are from four to six in number; five being found 

 nearly as often as four, but six are more rare. 



CHEYSOMITRIS PINUS. 

 Pine Goldfinch. 



Chrysomilris pinus Bon., Consp., 1850, 515. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, quite robust. Tongue, not very thick, horny, but havins; only a very slight indication of the hair- 

 like terminal hbers. Sternum similar to that oUristis but proportionately a little broader and with the keel a trifle higher. 

 IJill, quite accuminate. 



Coi-on. AiIuU in summer. Grayish-white aljove and below, streaked with dusky, but lighter beneath. Basal portion 

 1 fwiiigs and tail, excepting outer webs of first three primaries, and narrow edges of outer webs of primaries,. sulphur-yellow. 

 Under wing coverts, edges and tips of greater wing coverts and of tertiaries, white. 



Adu.i in winter. Similar to the summer plumage, ))ut exhibiting a rufous tinge above and below. 



Yonnij and Ncselin(/s. Differ from the winter adult in being mure strongly tinged with rufous. Sexes similar in all 

 .stages of plumage. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the ever present sulphur-yellow markings of the wings and tail. Some .specimens show a tinge of yel- 

 low cn t'le alidomen. Breeds from Northern New England to the Arctic Circle; winters froniMaine to Florida. The spcc- 

 im;n fVom Jliami is somewhat smaller in size ami darker in color than more northern skins. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements. Length. 5-2ry, stretch, 8-80; wing, 285; tail, lIHl; bill, --la; tarsu-S, -55. Longest specimen, 

 .'■)-35; greatest extent of wing, 9-10: longest wing, 3-00; tail, 1-G5; bill, ■•15; tarsus, -(K). Smallest specimen, ( from Miami, ) 

 length, ISO; stretch, 840; wing, 2-i)0; tail, I'TO; bill, ^5: tai-sus, -50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Ncsis, placed in trees. The following description is taken from a specimen, now in the Smithsonian Institute, which 

 was found at Parley's Park, W'ahsatch Mcjuntains, Utah, by Mr. Ridgway, who has kindly WTittcn it for me. "The very 

 bulky structure is composed of fine strips of bark, mostly gathered from coniferous and asjien trees; tlic lining being of the 

 wme material but mixed with a little willow down. Diiiieosions; external diameter, 250, internal, 2-(10. External depth, 

 M)0, iuterual, 100." 



