BRITISH COLUMBIA AND HYPOTHETICAL LIST. 
7 
severely plain suit like that of the female. A month or so is spent by both old and young 
in recruiting strength—a season which is passed for the most part in loose flocks—and then 
the leisurely journey southward is begun, about the twentieth of August. The sole and 
characteristic note from this on is a metallic dink or chink. There is little concert about 
their southward movement, and the air in middle latitudes may resound with dink cries at 
any time of night, and often in the daytime, for a month. The birds gather in immense 
numbers in the reeds of the Chesapeake region, and are slaughtered by thousands for the 
market, where they are known as “Reed-birds.” Later in their retreat they infest the rice- 
swamps of the Carolinas and Georgia, where they are also killed in great numbers, with 
perhaps some little show of justice. But surely if our Southern neighbors could realize of 
how much delicious music they deprive us another vear, they would not be so cruel. It is 
a great pity that the burden of the musician’s support does not fall more heavily upon us, 
for how cheerfully would we bear it! 
B. C. & H. No. 2. 
HOARY REDPOLL. 
A. O. U. No. 527a. Acanthis hornemannii exilipes (Coues). 
Description.—Adu/t: Somewhat similar to 4. linaria (q. v. p. 82) but much paler, less 
streaked and more extensively white; crown crimson; feathers of extreme forehead dusky 
tipped with hoary; lores and throat (narrowly) dusky; color pattern of upperparts as in 
linaria but dusky streaks smaller and less distinct, the flaxen paler, nearly white; rump pure 
white or rosy-tinged, unmarked; underparts white, the breast tinged with rosy; the sides 
streaked, faintly and sparsely, with dusky, the crissum nearly immaculate. Length much as 
in A. linarta, the feet smaller and weaker. 
General Range.—Of circumboreal distribution but not so northerly as A. hornemannii; 
breeds in Arctic and sub-arctic America and migrates to northern border of United States 
in winter. 
Occurrence in British Columbia.—Typical specimens of this form have been taken in 
winter at Quesnelle by Mr. Sidney Williams. One absolutely typical as regards shape of 
bill but showing an admixture of /inaria in plumage was taken by myself at Sumas on the 
southern border. 
Supposed Occurrence in Washington.—Redpolls frequent the eastern portion of the 
State in myriads in winter and there is no reasonable doubt that the hosts include a small 
percentage of this species, as elsewhere along the northern border of the United States. 
B. C. & H. No. 3. 
McCOWN’S LONGSPUR. 
A. O. U. No. 539. Rhynchophanes mccownii (Lawrence). 
Description.—Adult male in summer: Crown black bordered by white superciliary ; 
remaining upperparts slaty gray varied by dusky streaks and lighter gray and ochraceous 
edgings; median coverts chestnut; a rectangular area of white centrally on tail involving 
all feathers save middle pair; sides of head whitish with slaty auriculars; throat white 
bounded by black maxillary stripe; a crescentic patch of black on breast, shading posteriorly 
through slaty black, thence to whitish of remaining underparts. Bill blackish paling basally 
below; feet brownish black. Female in summer: Similar to male but paler and duller, 
crown like back and breast slaty gray; bill and feet lighter brown. Jn winter, plumage of 
both sexes duller and black pattern of adult male nearly effaced by grayish ends of feathers. 
Length about 6.00; wing 3.50; tail 2.25; bill .50; tarsus .65. 
General Range.—Region of the Upper Missouri and its tributaries, north to Saskatche- 
wan, west regularly to Rocky Mountains, casually further; south in winter to Texas, 
Arizona and Mexico; breeds from Colorado northwards. 
Occurrence in British Columbia.—I shot an adult male at Chilliwack on June rst, 
1887, and two years later took two females at the same spot. These could hardly have 
been accidental and their occurrence at that season hints at a northern distribution in the 
breeding season of which we are still ignorant. 
Supposed Occurrence in Washington.—Because of the configuration of the land as 
well as proximity all Chilliwack and Sumas records are presumptive for northern Washington. 
