14 



young it is clear that this nest could not have been completed much 

 later than the middle of March. 



Not content to let the season pass without making a greater effort 

 to secure their eggs, I accepted on the 15th of April, an invitation 

 from my brother, C. Collins Merriatn, to accompany him on an excur- 

 sion through the densely timbered region about Otter Creek (near the 

 eastern border of Lewis County) and Big Otter Lake (Herkimer 

 County), from which it takes its origin. This entire district lies 

 within the area commonly known as "Brown's Tract," and is Canadian 

 in fauna. Never before at any locality have I seen a species of bird 

 represented by such immense numbers of individuals as here attested 

 the abundance of the pine finch. In every part of the forest, from 

 early in the morning till after the sun had disappeared in the west, 

 there was not a moment that their voices were not heard among the 

 pines and spruce trees overhead. And yet, though among them 

 several days, we were not able to discover a single nest. Never have 

 I searched more faithfully for the eggs of any species, and never has 

 my diligence been rewarded with less success. I at first made a 

 systematic survey of a large number of trees, taking a limb at a time, 

 and then climbed so many that I was barely able to get back to camp, 

 but with no better results. 



Their nests are placed so high and amidst such thick evergreen 

 foliage that it is almost impossible to find them. As illustrating the 

 number of this species as well as of the red and white-winged cross- 

 bills (Loxia curvirostra var. Americana and L. leucoptera) , it may be 

 worth recording that after firing twenty-two small charges of fine 

 dust shot at the cross-bills as they settled into the top of a single dead 

 hemlock, I picked up fifty-one birds, of which twenty-eight were red 

 cross-bills, eight white-winged, and fifteen pine linnets. I aimed at 

 cross-bills only, killing the linnets by chance. Mr. A. J. Dayan was 

 so fortunate as to secure two sets of their eggs from among the pines 

 near Lyon's Falls (in the Black River Valley). The first was com- 

 pleted March 11, and contained but three eggs on the 18th. The 

 second contained two fresh eggs April 20, and was left till the 25th, 

 but no more were deposited." 



Dimensions. Average measurements of eleven specimens : length, 

 5-00; stretch, 8-63; wing, 2-76; tail, 1-90; culmen, -43; gape, -47; 

 tarsus, -52; middle toe, -45; its claw, -23. 



74. Astragalinus tristis (Linne). AMERICAN GOLDFINCH; 

 YELLOWBIRD. A permanent resident; breeds; common. 



This pretty species, in winter, associates in flocks, feeding upon 

 the seeds of birch, alder and hemlock, besides those of numerous 

 weeds. They are not generally recognized in their plain, but neat 

 winter dress, as the gayly-attired Yellowbirds of summer. In winter, 



