MOUNTAIN FINCH. INSKSSOHKS. FRINGILLA. 307 



vary considerably in numbers through a succession of sea- 

 sons, a circumstance, in all probability, occasioned by the 

 state of the weather, as regulating the direction and extent 

 of their equatorial migration. 



The Mountain Finch is a bird of handsome appearance, 

 and rather superior in size to the Chaffinch, which in habits 

 and manners it closely resembles. During its residence with 

 us, it frequents the stubble lands, associating often with the 

 Chaffinch and other granivorous birds ; and I have observed 

 that it always roosts in fir or larch plantations, if any such 

 are in the neighbourhood of its haunt. The usual call-note 

 of this species, though not unlike that of the Chaffinch, can be 

 easily distinguished by a practised ear ; but I am unable to 

 say whether its notes vary in the spring, or whether it pos- 

 sesses any proper sung. It builds in lofty pine and spruce Nest, &c. 

 trees, and its nest is formed of moss and wool, lined with 

 feathers and hair. It lays four or five white eggs, spotted 

 with yellowish-brown. 



PLATE 54. Fig. 8. Male bird in its winter's plumage, and of 



the natural size. 



Head, cheeks, nape of the neck, and upper part of the General 

 back black ; having the feathers margined and tipped <! escri P- 

 with yellowish-grey, or yellowish-brown. Throat, breast, 

 scapulars, and lesser wing-coverts pale reddish-brown. 

 Coverts of the secondary quills black, tipped with pale 

 reddish-orange. Greater quills black, with a white spot 

 at the base, and the margins of the outer webs primrose- 

 yellow. Rump, belly, and under tail coverts yellowish- 

 white. Sides inclining to buff-orange, spotted with 

 black. Tail black, edged with grey, and the exterior 

 web of the outer feather white. Base of the bill inclin- 

 ing to lemon-yellow ; the tip black. In summer tin* 

 head, neck, and back are of a deep black, without any 

 of the yellowish-brown that distinguishes these parts in 

 winter ; and the bill becomes of a dark bluish-grey. 



