52 BULLETIN FERGUS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 



that fringe the margin of the water. Throughout September its pleasing 

 call-notes can be regularly heard as it works industriously in gathering 

 its daily fare of seeds, and its sweet songs can be heard as the songster 

 wings its way overhead in billowy flight. The winter habits of the Ameri- 

 can goldfinch in this region are unknown to me. Toward the latter part of 

 May its summer songs begin to enliven the observer's rambles, and then 

 it begins to show its bright summer attire. Congregating in the clumps of 

 willows that crowd the little bends of our Big Spring and other creeks, as- 

 sociating with yellow warblers recently arrived from their southern winter 

 homes, the goldfinches form sweet choruses with their gentle calls, and 

 revel in the wealth of opening buds and warming breezes. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts bright yellow, the forehead, 

 crown, sides of head, wings, and tail black; other parts chiefly yellow; 

 female has brownish or grayish olive instead of yellow; length 4.50-5.50 

 inches. 



533. PINE SISKIN. Spinus pinus. 



The pine siskin inhabits the coniferous forests of the county in sum- 

 mer. In the upland prairie regions it is seldom seen, as it is essentially 

 p. bird of the forest, where it flits among the tops of the tallest pines and 

 ether evergreen trees. Its presence may be noticed by its harsh, sibilant 

 call, as it swings here and there in active and noisy companionship. A 

 common note of the pine siskin is exactly like the goldfinch's usual plaint, 

 .a single or double call resembling the syllable "pee" or "pee pee," and 

 when the goldfinch and the redpoll are in the nighborhood, it is difficult 

 to distinguish the difference, if there be any, between their calls and that 

 of the pine siskin. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts grayish brown, lower parts 

 lighter, everywhere streaked with darker colors ; bases of tail and long wing 

 feathers marked with yellowish; length 4.50-5 inches. 



534. SNOWFLAKE. Passerina nivalis. 



A regular winter visitant. The snowflake generally makes its ap- 

 pearance with snow-storms of November, flitting overhead in small, scat- 

 tered troops, uttering its trilling call. My record contains no note of more 

 than six or eight together at any time, and it does not appear that the 

 snowflake forms here such large flocks as may be seen in more southern 

 localities. Frequently a troop will alight to feed on some exposed area, 

 taking flight easily at any alarm, and whirling away from the neighborhood. 

 The snow-bird is seldom seen after early February, except in cases of 

 storms of unusual severity. 



Distinguishing features: Winter plumage of upper parts dull white, 

 usually tinged with reddish brown; back, shoulders, and part of wing, 

 black; chest tinged with brown, other under parts white; length 6-7 inches. 

 536. LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Calcarius lapponicus. 



This boreal species is an accompaniment of the winter storm and 

 the severest weather. Generally it whirls southward on the wings of the 

 snow-laden blasts, calling downward to us in cheery note as it passes over- 

 head. Sometimes a flock will sweep down on an exposed area of the 



