Merrill on Winter Plumage of Griiy-crowned Finch. 75 



NOTES ON THE WINTER PLUMAGE OF LEUCOSTICTE 

 TEPHROCOTIS, Sw., AND L. TEPHROCOTIS var. LIT- 

 TORALIS, Bd. 



BY DR. J. C. MERRILL, U. S. A. 



Thr question of the possibility of distinguishing with certainty 

 the sexes of the Gray-crowned Finch by the phimage alone has 

 been warmly contested by several ornithologists. The following 

 remarks are based upon the examination of thirty-five specimens 

 of the Gray-crowned Finch (L. tephrocotis) and twelve specimens of 

 Hepburn's Finch (var. littoralis), which numbers probably i-epresent 

 the comparative abundance of the two forms in this vicinity (Fort 

 Shaw, Montana), for they were shot without selection as oppor- 

 tunity offered. 



These Finches were fii'st noticed here shortly before Christmas, 

 when a heavy snow-storm and very cold weather (the mercury 

 solidifying on several occasions) brought many birds about the 

 Fort for food and shelter. Of these, Snow Buntings and Shore 

 Larks (var. leucolcema) were the most abundant, and mingled with 

 them were Red-polls and the present species. During the most 

 severe weather the Finches, when not feeding, sought shelter in 

 Cliff" Swallows' nests under the eaves of the stables, — a habit I did 

 not observe in the other species. From that time to the present, 

 about two months, the birds have been quite common, but only 

 during storms ; they appear about the buildings within an hour or 

 two of the first fall of snow, and remain until the storm is over. 

 They are now to be found for a dny or two among the weeds in the 

 post garden, and then disappear until the next storm ; nor has 

 diligent search revealed their haunts at these intervals. Though 

 very tame, and associating freely with the Buntings and Larks 

 while in the Fort, at the garden the Finches are usually seen in 

 small flocks by themselves, or with the Red-polls. Here they are 

 restless rather than shy, continually rising without apparent cause, 

 to settle immediately near the same spot. The only note I have 

 heard is a rather musical chink. On dissection the oesophagus was 

 always found distended with the seeds of a small weed. Both 

 Finches mingle indiscriminately. At this season of the year they 

 are alike in having the bill yellow with dusky tip, iris brown, the 

 legs and feet brownish black. 



