472 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Cluysotnilris trutis. 



yellow l)L'low; two broad bamls across coverts, and broad edges to last halt' of secondaries 

 jcilo rutbus. 



IIab. North America <renerally. 



Ill winter tlie yellow is rephiced by a yellowish -brown ; the black ol the 

 crown wiiiitiiiL;, that of wings and tail browner. The throat is generally 

 yellowish; the under i)arts ashy-brown, passing behind into white. 



There are no observable ditlerences between eastern and western speci- 

 mens. 



Habits. The common American Goldfinch is found throughout the 



greater portion of North America, from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific. Sir John 

 liichardsiui met with it in the fur re- 

 ixioiis, where it is one of the tardiest of 

 the summer visitors, and whence it de- 

 parts early in September. The si)eci- 

 nien described by him was taken June 

 29. At the extreme South it is not 

 uncommon, acc^oixling to Dresser, around 

 San Antonio, and Dr. Woodlunise found 

 it abundant both in Texas and in the 

 Indian Territory. Dr. Cones did not 

 find it in Arizona, nor does Sumichnist 

 give it as a bird of Vera Cruz. Dr. Newljerry found this Finch (piite com- 

 mon throughout his route to the Columbia, this sweet songster, he states, 

 liaving been a constant source of pleasure in the interior both of Calitbrnia 

 and Oregon, far from the haunts of men, where everything else was new and 

 strange. Dut Dr. Suckley, though he lookeil carefully for this species about 

 Puget Sound, in the most ai)proi)riat« situations, was unable to find any, and 

 did not believe that any existed there. Dr. Cooj)er states that it is, however, 

 (|uite abundant on the Columbia and along the coast near its mouth. 



The last-named writer states that this species is a constant .esident in all 

 the western parts of California, but he met with none on the Colorado. They 

 become rare on the coast at the Columbia, l)ut farther in. the interior are 

 found as far north as latitude 49^. They breed as far south as San Diego, 

 but seem to avoid the hot interior valleys, as well as the mountains. Their 

 favorite resorts are where thistles and other composite plants alM)und, and 

 also groves of willow and cottonwood, upon the seeds of which they" feed 

 largely. In winter the seeds of the buttt)nwood supply their chief sub- 

 sistence. 



The common Goldfinch was seen in abundance by ^Ir. Kidgway only in 

 the vicinity of Sacramento City, associated with the Carpodnrns front((iis, 

 and often nesting in the same tree. In the interior this species was rarely 

 seen, and only one s}>eciinen was secured in the Truckee Valley in ^lav, and 

 no^ noticed afterwards. It was, however, found breeding in the Uintah 



