FINCHES. 345 



shy. It comes to the mountain in April, and leaves in 

 October. 



CHRYSOMITRIS Tristis, (Linn., Wilson.) Yellow-bird, or 

 American goldfinch. The goldfinch inhabits the whole 

 United States, and goes as far north as the forty-ninth 

 parallel. It is common, and generally gregarious, being fre- 

 quently found in migrating crowds of other sparrows. Its 

 habits are rather peculiar, being a vagrant and wanderer, 

 with erratic movements. 



PIPILO Erythrophthalma, (Linn.) The ground-robin, or 

 Tow-wee finch, inhabits wild, dry, vacant spaces, especially 

 barren tracts covered by bushes. He stays near the ground, 

 hopping around, and scratching among the leaves, uttering 

 all the time his monotonous notes, " tow-ee, tow-ee," or, as 

 frequently pronounced, "che-wink, che-wink." 



CARDINALIS Yirginianus, (Bon.) This is the cardinal 

 grosbeak, or red-bird, a royal prince of the finch family. 

 His splendid form is sometimes seen, and his loud whistle 

 heard for a time in the mountain woods. His general 

 range is from New York to Florida, having a taste rather 

 for the south. His visits to the mountain are short, although 

 he remains nearly the entire year in the eastern and southern 

 part of Pennsylvania. 



AMMODROMUS Palustris, (Lath.) Swamp sparrow. This 

 bird, as its name indicates, is somewhat aquatic in its habits, 

 living among reeds, rushes, and water-grasses. Not com- 

 mon on the mountain. 



CHRYSOMITRIS Pinus, (Wilson.) Pine finch. This is a 

 northern species, visiting the mountain late in autumn, and 

 retiring north early in spring. 



PASSERELLA Iliaca, (Mer.) Ferruginous finch. This is 

 a handsome finch, larger than most of his brethren, and 

 breeding in the north. He is a cold-weather visitor of the 

 mountain. 



GUIRACA Ludoviciana, (Bon.) Rose-breasted grosbeak. 

 This is a large and beautiful finch, one of our noblest-look- 

 ing birds, and a fine songster. He is a frequent visitor of 



