292 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Some writers state that the eggs of the Goldfinch range from three 

 to five in number. This is not correct, at least in Ohio. The number 

 to a set varies from three to six. In the month of August and during 

 the first two weeks of September, 1888, Mr. Rudolph, A. L. Baker, and 

 myself collected twenty-nine nests with eggs of the Goldfinch. Out of 

 this number, eleven contained six eggs, ten contained five, five were of 

 four, and three were of three eggs each. Sets of five and six are 

 common. The color of the eggs is plain, pale bluish or greenish- 

 white, unspotted. Ten eggs measure .62 x .48, .61 x .49, .61 x .48, .62 x 

 .51, .63 X .52, .65 X .52, .67 x 51, .67 x .52, .66 x .52, .67 X .52. An average 

 specimen measures .65 x .52. 



530. Spinus psaltria (Say) [182.] 



Arkansas Goldfincli. 



Hab. Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific, north on the coast to Oregon, in 

 the interior north to Colorado and Utah, southward to Sonora. 



This species is also called the Arkansaw Green-backed and Rocky 

 Mountain Goldfinch. It is an abundant bird in the West, nesting like 

 its Eastern cousin, the American Goldfinch, in trees and bushes. In 

 California it breeds from the latter part of April to the middle of July ; 

 May and June being the most general breeding months. Ten nests 

 containing four eggs each, collected by Mr. R. B. Herron, at San 

 Gorgonia Pass, California, in May and June, are in my cabinet. The 

 eggs are of the same color as those of ^S". iristis^ pale greenish-blue, but 

 are much smaller. The nests are also smaller — some of the more 

 elaborately built nests of tristis are almost double the size of those of 

 S. psaltria. Ten eggs measure .63X.46, .60X.45, .62X.41, .62X.42, 

 .59X.46, .63X.44, .63X.47, .63X.48, .64X.47, .63X.45; comparatively 

 little variation in size. Four eggs is the usual number laid, rarely five. 



530a. Spinus psaltria arizonse (Coues.) [182a.] 



Arizona Goldfinch. 



Hab. Southwestern portion of the United States, North to Arizona and Colorado, East to Texas 

 and Mexico. 



The general habits, nesting and eggs of this sub-species are 

 exactly the same as those of the Arkansas Goldfinch. 



531. Spinus lawrencei (Cass.) [183.] 



Xiaivrence's Goldfincli. 



Hab. California, in A*inter southwestward to Arizona. 



Lawrence's Goldfinch is a common bird in California where it breeds 

 in abundance, placing the nest usually near the extremity of the limb of 

 a live oak, where it is well concealed and hard to find. They nest in 

 April, May and June. Prof. Evermann says he found the first full set 

 of eggs in Ventura county, April 6. The nest is composed of wool^ 



