FlilMaLLllJj^: — THE FINCIIKS. 5(j(j 



Dimensions: Total leiiirtli, 7.;")(> ; winir, t.SO; tail, .'J.oO. Kxftosi'd jxtrtion of first ]>ri- 

 niarv, .']..'>(». IJill, from loit'liead, .G"J; iiom nof^tril. .I'J. IiC^> : tarsus, .(Jo; mitJdU; toe 

 and claw, .1>2 ; (.law alone, .o') ; hind toe and elaw. .<>!): claw alone, .38. 



IIau. Aleutian Islands (St. George's and I'liahisehka). 



This is coii.siik'iaMy the laroest of tlie Aiiu'iican species (d' h n <■(,>;( irti\ and 

 luis II longer Idll. It also lias the chocolate and rose color darker, and the 

 rose extending iarther forward on the hreast than in other s])ecies. It could 

 only he confounded with C. HtfitridiH as to coh>r, hoth having the head above 

 and on the sicU's, ashy, covering the whole ear-coverts; hut tlie dusky patch 

 on the crown is more extended, the ash of chin more restricted, and tlie 

 throat darker. The rose extends farther along the breast, and the tints are 

 dilferent. The size is much larger. 



A specimen, apparently young, ])erhaps a female, dillers in duller tints, 

 and a tinge of ochreous-ydlow on tlie middle of the abdomen and crissum. 

 The lining of the wings is with(Uit any rose-c(»lor. 



Bonaparte and Schlegel descril)e the young of this species as without rose- 

 color. 



Si)ecimens of this bird were (ddained at St. (Jeorge's Island, with the eggs 

 (which are white., Itv Mr. W. If. J)all. Dr. Minor found it at rnalaschka. 



Habits. The (Iniv-eared Finch is the largest species of this remarkable 

 genus known to inhabit North Anu'rica. Thus far, exce])t in one instance, it 

 has been met with only in the Aleutian Islands and Unalaschka. In the latter 

 j)lace they were met with by Dr. T. T. ]\Iinor, and in the former by Mr. Dall. 



]\Ir. I J. r»rown (Ibis, ISOS, ]». A'.Vl) states that a single sjiecimen of this 

 very r.ire bird was taken at Fort IJu]>ert, Vancouver Island, in June, isr)2 

 by Mr. 1*. M. CNjm})ttt]i, the (dlicer in charge of that station. This, however, 

 may have l>elonged to the var. lUfordlis. 



Air. Dall states that they abound on the Pribylow and the other Aleutian 

 Islands. A nnnd)er of s]»ecimens were obtained on tlie St. (Jeorge's in Au- 

 gust, tliough at that tim«> they Avere moulting. At that season this bird 

 had no song except a clear chir]>, sounding like irf^'rt-(f vht-a- cec-wict. It 

 was on the wing a great ]Kirt of the time, rarely alighting on the ground, ])Ut 

 darting ra])idly in a series of descending and ascending curves. At one time 

 it would swing on tlie broad to}> of an umbcdliferous plant, and at another 

 alight on some ledge of the per])endicular bluff, jumping from j>ointto point, 

 as if deligliting to test its omii agility. Mr. Dall adds that its nest is a 

 simple hollow on one of tlie ledges, ])rovided with a few straws or a bit of 

 moss. They deposit tln'ir eggs in May, and these are four in number. In 

 August tlieir yonng were fidly Hedged. 



Tliey feed on the st;eds of grasses and other small plants, but in the crop 

 of one Air. Dall found two or three small beetles. They were also received 

 from Kodiak, through Mr. r»ischoff. 



Their eggs are of a grayish-white, with a slight tinge of yellowish, and 

 measure .95 by .70 of an inch. 



