41: PINE SISKIN. 



The flight of the Goldfinch is undulating, and in winter 

 they are rather nervous, active birds, seldom remaining long 

 in one place. 



Song. The Goldfinch has a peculiar plaintive cry which 

 it gives as it rises and falls in its undulating flight. It also 

 has a longer call note often emitted as the bird sits on a tree 

 to attract the attention of seme passing companion. The 

 males in summer also have a peculiar note which is louder 

 and clearer than that given at other times, which is uttered as 

 they fly about their nesting sites in huge circles. The true 

 song is an exceedingly sweet, continuous warble and, as even 

 in summer, the males are inclined to gather in flocks, the 

 efiect produced by a concert of their voices is very fine. 



Pine Siskin. 



Spinus pinus 

 Plate IX, Fig. 2. 

 Grayish white, streaked everywhere with dusky, excepting, 

 on abdomen. Broadly above, where the dark color predmoinates 

 and more narrowly below, where the light predominates. 



"Wings brown with base of the secondaries and some of 

 the primaries pale sulphury yellow, thus forming a band across 

 the wing. Bill brown. Tail brown, sulphur yellow at the 



Dimensions. Length, 5.2.3 ; stretch, 8.80 ; wing, 2.8o ; tail, 

 1.65 ; bill, .45 ; tarsus, .60. 



Comparisons. Easily distinguished by the plain color, streaks 

 above and below, forked tail and sulphury band across wing. 

 The Red-poll is somewhat like this bird, but has a red crown, 

 and white wino: band. 



