84 THE PINE SISKIN. 
petent observer in Greenland, Holboell, the male not only becomes exceed- 
ingly shy but loses his rosy coloring. It is hardly to be supposed that this 
loss of color is a protective measure, but rather that it is the result of the 
exhaustive labors incident to the season. Nature, in that forbidding clime, 
cannot afford to dress a busy workman in fine clothes. It is noteworthy 
in this connection, also, that caged Redpolls lose their rosy tints never to 
regain them. 
No. 30. 
PINE SISKIN 
A. O. U. No. 533. Spinus pinus (Wils.). 
Synonyms.—AMERICAN SIsKIN. Prine Fincu. Pine LInNET. 
Description Adult male and female: Above brownish buffy; below 
creamy-buff and whitish; everywhere streaked with dusky or dark olive-brown; 
the streakings are finer on the head and foreparts, coarser on back and breast; 
wings fuscous, the flight feathers sulphur-yellow at the base, and the primaries 
edged with the same color; tail fuscous, all but the middle feathers sulphur- 
yellow at base. Bill comparatively slender, acute. Length 4.75-5.00 (120.6-127) ; 
wing 2.75 (69.9) ; tail 1.80 (45.7) ; bill .43 (10.9). 
Recognition Marks.—Warbler size; conspicuous general streakiness, sul- 
phur-yellow markings of wings and tail, most noticeable in flight. 
Nesting.—Nest: saddled upon horizontal limb of evergreen tree, well con- 
cealed from below, usually at moderate heights; very variable in structure, flimsy 
» to massive and ornate; composed of small twigs (usually fir), and tree-moss, with 
a lining of fine rootlets and horse- or cow-hair, rarely feathers. An average nest 
measures externally 4% inches wide by 2% in. deep; internally 2 in. wide by 1 in. 
deep. Eggs: 1-4, usually 3 or 4, pale bluish green lightly dotted with rufous and 
blackish, chiefly about larger end. Av. size .67x48 (17x12.2). Season: 
March-September, but most abundant in April; one brood. 
General Range.—North America at large, breeding in higher latitudes, and 
in coniferous forests of the West to southern boundary of United States; also 
sparingly in northeastern United States; irregularly south in winter to Gulf of 
Mexico. 
Range in Washington.—In summer coextensive with evergreen timber, but 
especially common in mountains just below limit of trees; in winter more local- 
ized, or irregularly absent. 
Authorities.——Chrysomitris pinus Bonap. Baird. Rep. Pac. R. R. Sury. IX. 
join JUS akslets joy las ANS (Chass ILES IN IDs IDES IMS [5 18 1d 
Specimens.—U. of W. Prov. B. E. P. 
IN designing the Siskin, Nature achieved another triumph in obscurities. 
The heavy streaky pattern, worked out in dusky olive on a buffy brown 
