Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 557 



of six seen on the gTound along- the waterfront on Long Point, pick- 

 ing among the shells and at intervals uttering call notes. They 

 were quite musical and very tame, allowing one to approach quite 

 near. 



108. GOLDFINCH 



ASTRAGALINUS TRISTIS (Linnfcus) 



The Goldfinch, Thistlebird or Wild Canary, is one of the com- 

 mon cheery birds at the lake in the spring and fall and sparingly 

 during the summer. In May they come in some numbers and 

 may be seen in small flocks about the farms back from the lake 

 or along the railroad. The males are then in their richest plumage 

 of yellow and black. They do not nest until late spring or even 

 summer. Then an occasional nest may be found perhaps in a 

 willow near the lake or in some low bush at the edge of a marsh. 

 The Goldfinch, however, is oftenest seen in October, after the males 

 have moulted and taken on the winter plumage, the more modest 

 coat which the females wear at all times. Then these birds may 

 be seen in open places in small flocks about the lake, in orchards, 

 along the railroad, and other suitable places, feeding upon seed of 

 various kinds, such as thistles, milkweed, and the like. 



They appear to feed to a considerable extent on the seeds of the 

 milkweed, ragweed and evening primrose, also the dandelion, 

 thistle and sunflower. 



Occasionally they remain quite late in the fall ; large flocks 

 were seen as late as December 23, 1904. 



In 1906, it was noted nearly every day during our stay at the 

 lake from July 23 to October 14. On July 28 it was first heard 

 singing the canary song. On August 19 they were beginning to 

 flock, and their singing was heard throughout the autumn. In 

 1913, they were noted almost daily during the entire period of our 

 stay at the lake — September 3 to November 1. 



109. SNOW BUNTING; SNOWFLAKE 



PLECTROPHENAX NIVALIS (Linnaeus) 



A rare and infrequent winter visitant. A flock of 12 to 15 

 seen by Mr. S. S. Chadwick on a road five miles southwest of tlio 

 lake January 12, 1902, and six seen by him at his house on Long 

 Point four days later. A flock of ten seen on Long Point Novem- 

 ber 1, 1906. The charactei* of Long Point had been changed by 

 the removal of the grove of trees, and millet had been sown. The 

 Snowflakes evidently found the millet and the flock increased daily 

 for several days until it finally numbered 50 to 60 individuals. 



