228 FRINGILLID^E : FINCHES. 



way, and all the nameless nooks where seeding weeds 

 abound. The song of summer passes with the brilliant 

 plumage it inspires ; but the birds seem never to tire 

 of the twittering gossip they give each other in token 

 of the harmony that prevails among these companion- 

 able creatures. Some, less satisfied or less confident, 

 make off in October to more congenial winter homes; 

 but many remain on hand to greet with hospitable 

 words the roving bands of Red-polls which come from 

 the north in the depth of winter. 



PINE LINNET; AMERICAN SISKIN. 

 CHRYSOMITRIS PINUS ( Wi7s.} Bp. 



Chars. Above, continuously streaked with dusky and olive-brown 

 or flaxen ; below, similarly streaked with dusky and whitish ; the 

 whole plumage more or less suffused with yellowish, especially 

 on the rump ; bases and edges of the wing- and tail-feathers more 

 or less extensively yellow ; no red anywhere ; no definite black 

 on the head. Bill and feet dark. Plumage very variable in ex- 

 tent and purity of the sulphury-yellow. Young birds more or 

 less suffused with buffer flaxen. The yellow of the wings and 

 tail is peculiar to this species. The sexes are alike. Length, 

 4.75 ; extent, 8.75 ; wing, 2.75, pointed ; tail, 1.75, forked. 



This Siskin is not distantly related to the Red-poll 

 and Crossbill, like which species it is a bird of irregu- 

 lar movements ; the manner of its presence in New 

 England being therefore so uncertain as to require 

 qualified expression. Properly speaking, it belongs 

 to the Canadian Fauna, and such area limits its south- 

 ward dispersion in the breeding season ; the bird 

 being hence resident in northern New Engla'nd, a mi- 

 grant or winter visitant in other parts of this country. 



