BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA 61 



costicte mingles with the gray-crowned in proportion of one 10 six or eight 

 of the latter, in this locality. In habits it is a counterpart of the one pre- 

 viously described at length, hence further account would be needless repe- 

 tition. 



528. REDPOLL. Acanthis linaria. 



The redpoll is the common "snowbird" of this region. It regularly 

 spends the greater part of the winter with us, and several hundred indi- 

 viduals make their headquarters in the immediate neighborhood of Lewis- 

 town. They haunt the shrubbery of gardens and weed-patches, picking up 

 such seeds and morsels of food as they can find. Stragglers frequently find 

 their way under sidewalks in feeding, and they often fly out from under the 

 feet of the passerby. Their usual notes are a call suggesting the syllables 

 "chickie," or "chickie-chie." Another call is an exact counterpart of the 

 goldfinch's plaintive "pee pee." The first call is one of alarm, and is heard 

 most frequently in the ordinary movements of the redpoll. In the late 

 winter, after the first bright days in March, the singing of the redpoll can 

 be heard, a short hurried trill somewhat like that of the chipping sparrow, 

 but much shortened and uttered in a harsher tone. This song is uttered 

 by the performer either sitting or flying, and is frequently given by many 

 of the birds flying in a flock. The redpoll generally arrives early in No- 

 vember, and remains until about the middle of April. 



Among the numbers of redpolls that visit us, I am certain of the 

 occurrence of the hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemannii exilipes, if the 

 paler tinge of pink on the sides as examined at close range is a safe basis of 

 identification. In Auk, XVIII., page 195, Mr. Louis B. Bishop calls attention 

 to specimens of this species taken at Miles City, authentically identified, 

 confirming me. in my opinion of the occurrence of ths form here and else- 

 where throughout this region of Montana in winter. Without having taken 

 specimens, but having seen the birds only a few feet away in the clearest 

 light, the writer is tolerably certain of the occurrence of Holboell's red- 

 poll, A. 1. holboellii, at Lewistbwn. Since Mr. Louis B. Bishop has recorded 

 its presence at Miles City, there is no occasion to doubt its occurrence in 

 Fergus county at least as a winter visitant. 



The evidence of the occurrence of the greater redpoll, A. 1. rostrata, 

 is equally strong. In several instances it has been seen associating with 

 leucostictes, in whose company it was the more readily noticed because 

 of its smaller size and different markings. I have not observed it with 

 other redpolls, and only on a few occasions with the leucostictes in mid- 

 winter. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts brownish gray, streaked with 

 darker; top of head with dark red or brownish red (in winter); sides 

 streaked with dusky; breast and sides pink; length 4.50-5 inches. 

 529. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. Astragalinus tristis. 



Doubtless generally distributed over the county. Dr. J. A. Allen 

 reports that it is "quite common along the better timbered portions of the 

 larger creeks and rivers, particularly along the Musselshell." It resorts 

 to the weedy patches along the ditches in fall, feeding among the weeds 



