PASSERES—FRINGILLID. 139 
species, but it has ceased to be the “Tolerably regular win- 
ter resident in northern Ohio” that Dr. Wheaton knew. 
During my ten years’ residence in Oberlin I have never 
seen it, in spite of many winter days spent afield in search 
for it. The rare occasions when it does cross Lake Erie are 
notable ones, for then the birds are among the most numer- 
ous of winter birds. Stragglers may be found occasionally. 
One was taken by Mr. Charles Dury in January, 1869, at 
Cincinnati. 
The Redpoll feeds much after the fashion of the Gold- 
finch, the flock taking possession of a weed and apparently 
cleaning out the seeds before leaving, twittering all the 
while. They are not wary and allow a close approach. 
192. (529.) ASTRAGALINUS TRISTIS (Linn.). 90. 
American Goldfinch. 
Synonyms: Chrysomitris tristis, Fringilla tristis, Carduelis 
tristis, Spinus tristis. 
Yellow-bird, Thistle-bird, Lettuce-bird, Salad-bird, Wild 
Canary. 
Audubon, Orn. Biog., 1831, 172. 
Goldfinch is one of our commoner birds the year through, 
but during the colder part of the year—from October to 
April—he is known as a common sparrow, by the majority 
of persons, because his bright yellow and deep black dress 
has given place to drab only tinted with yellow. He has 
lost his cheerful, rollicking song, also, substituting a con- 
versational twitter while he feeds or flies. During the more 
inclement weather flocks of Goldfinches take refuge in the 
woods, where they feed upon such weed and grass seeds as 
may be found there in the more open places. At other 
times they range the fields for food. Goldfinches and Tree 
Sparrows are frequently found in flocks together, both in 
woods and open fields. 
The winter food of Goldfinch consists largely of weed 
and grass seeds taken from standing weeds and grass. In 
summer and autumn thistle seeds are much in favor, as 
they are in winter if there are any left. Insects are 
