228 



SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 



supply, similar to t, 1, as far as the Gulf Coast. Gregarious. 

 Fig, 299. Notes, not dissimilar to those of t, 1, but 

 rather clearer. 



v. Goldfinches. Astrag-alinus. 



Differ from u in having the bill shorter 

 and not as pointed. No yellow at the base 

 of wing or tail feathers. 



1. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, A. TRIS- 

 TIS. 5.60; bright lemon yellow; top of 

 head, wings, and tail, black; two white 

 . wing bars and some white markings on tips 

 of wing feathers, fig. 300. Female and win- 

 ter male, .greenish above, dull white below; 

 CC, F, u, 1. 1-4. wings and tail much as in summer (brown- 

 er in female) ; young strongly tinged with buffy. Breeds in 

 U. S. east of the Rockies north Fig. 300. 



into the southern British Pos- 

 sessions, southward along the 

 mountains to Ga. ; winters from 

 Mass, to Fla. Frequents open 

 country; gregarious in winter. 

 Song, a continuous warble, 

 very sweet, sometimes given as 

 the bird flies in a circle ; call, a 

 single plaintive cry and a "Per 

 chick-cr-ry' 1 ' 1 given when rising 

 in its undulating flight. Nests CC, F, v, 1. 1-4. 



often In willows or ornamental trees ; eggs, pale blue, un- 

 spotted ; breeds late in June. 



w. Crossbills. Loxia. 



Medim-sizerl finches with bills crossed at tip, fig. 301 ; 

 wings, long ; tail, short and forked : tree-inhabiting. Nests, 

 in trees; eggs, pale blue, dotted with black. 



1. AMERICAN CROSSBILL, L. MINOR. 6.00; yellow- 

 ish-red; wings and tail, dusky. Female and young male, 

 greenish-gray ; yellow on top of head ; from this males grad- 



