NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 359 



The Aleutian Rosy Finch is the largest of the species of this genus known to in- 

 hibit North America. It is found in abundance on the Prybilof and other Aleutian 

 Islands. Dr. Stejneger states that on Bering Island it cannot be said to be numerous, 

 except perhaps in a few places where the localities are favorable. Copper Island, 

 being one mass of rugged and cracked rocks and cliffs, with steep, often quite per- 

 pendicular walls, jutting up straight out of the ocean, is the favorite haunt of these 

 stone-loving birds, which may be said to be fairly common on that island, occurring 

 in pairs around the whole isle during the breeding season. In the latter half of 

 June he found parents feeding their young, and full-fledged young were taken July 

 7. Many pairs produce two broods in a year. Turner says: "This bird prefers the 

 bold, ragged cliffs along the sea shore. They are constantly in motion, either on 

 the wing, flying in sweeping, long curves, sometimes near the earth, to mount thirty 

 or forty feet at a single effort, alighting on some projecting ledge of a bluff to search 

 for food, and away again to alight for a moment on a weed stalk. Their nest is 

 built on a small protected ledge of a bluff, or else in a small crevice. A nest was 

 obtained by me from a small cleft of a rock on the side of a high bluff. It was com- 

 posed of small pieces of wild parsnip stalks, coarse grass stems, and finer blades of 

 grass to form the lining. The nest is not elaborate, the material being somewhat 

 carelessly arranged. Four (sometimes five) white eggs are laid in the early part of 

 June. The young are able to fly by the first of August." The nests and eggs of 

 others of this genus are not certainly known, but probably resemble those of 

 yriseonucha. The eggs are described as being pure white without markings, three 

 to six in number, usually four; size ,97x.67. 



523. ALEUTIAN LEUCOSTICTE (From Turner). 



524. GRAY-CBOWNED LEUCOSTICTE. Leucosticte tcphrocotis Swains. 

 Oeog. Dipt. Interior of British America, south in winter throughout the entire 

 Rocky Mountain region of the United States; most abundant on the eastern slope. 



This is Swainson's Rosy Finch which is known to breed only in the Sierra 

 Nevadas in California. Its general habits, nesting and eggs are identical with those 

 of the Aleutian Leucosticte. 



